Jennifer Rogers is the Managing Attorney at Idea Law Group, where the firm has upheld a FORCE membership for three years. Jennifer has actively contributed to various panels and served as the secretary of the Special Initiative Working Group (SWIG) for the past year and a half. Recently, she assumed the role of committee chair.
When asked what drives her commitment to her craft and industry, Jennifer replied:
It’s hard for me to believe it but I have been in the industry for over 20 years now. As a young attorney I was focused on learning as much as I could about the industry, trends, and legalities of my practice. Through the years I have realized that it is a continuous process. The laws and regulatory requirements of our industry change often and in response to various social, economic and health crises. I think you have to be committed to keep up with the ever- evolving state of our industry. I also think that is what makes being an attorney in this industry so satisfying. It is never dull and every day I learn something new and that keeps it exciting.
What are some insights or at least one piece of advice you wish you would have known when you first started in the industry?
I think the best advice I received was to get involved in the industry at a local, state and nationwide level. As a very young attorney I think I was probably a little intimidated and didn’t feel like I had enough to offer to volunteer to participate in panels and committees. However, once I started volunteering and putting myself out there I realized that there was so much to gain. The benefits of being involved far outweigh the time and effort required to participate.
What is top of mind for you in your business right now? (topic, industry trend, or idea)
I think important topics and industry trends change significantly over time. However, one that remains on the top of the list is keeping up with new laws and regulatory requirements that impact our industry and our clients. Fortunately, we have a team that is extremely focused on following the changes in our industry and adapting our processes accordingly. We view keeping our client apprised of changing legal and regulatory requirements as our top priority.
How has being a member of a trade association resulted in business growth for you?
I am a member of the SWIG committee which has created a series of Servicer Certification courses. The first part of the course is a basic tutorial in foreclosure for our servicer clients. It has been really well received and I have been surprised and flattered by how many of the participants have reached out to ask further questions after the course. It’s nice to know that people were listening and interested in what we were saying. As a result of that participation in the committee and the course, I have had a few cases referred to our firm, IDEA Law Group. It is so rewarding to see that the effort we put into creating the course helped a few of our existing clients and also, in some cases, resulted in new clients for our firm. It was also really rewarding to help our clients’ newer employees with their substantive questions about the foreclosure processes that are part of their daily job duties. This has helped us to establish great working relationships with our clients so that they feel comfortable sending an email or picking up the phone and calling us when they have a question about the process in our states.
What legacy industry impact would you most desire to be known for?
I hope that my legacy will be the relationships, professional and personal, that I have in the industry. This industry is relatively small and I think that the relationships and friendships that we create are paramount. I am truly grateful for the opportunity to work with so many wonderful people over the years and for the lasting friendships that were created in the process.
