Animals are important to Jennifer Braster, founding partner of the law firm Maupin Naylor Braster. She is the treasurer of the State Bar of Nevada’s Animal Law Section, which was formed to enhance the skills of lawyers working in the field of animal law. She also serves on the board of directors for Hearts Alive Village, a local animal rescue.
Tell us about Hearts Alive Village.
Hearts Alive Village is a great organization devoted to not only assisting animals in finding homes but keeping those homes — finding solutions when owners are struggling to keep their pets.
What is the best business advice you’ve received?
A client once told me not to work too hard and appreciate my time with my family. Receiving this advice, especially from a client, meant a lot; it is possible to have a strong work ethic and work diligently for your clients without sacrificing your personal life. For me, it means giving my all to my clients when I am working but giving my all to my family when I’m with them.
If you could change one thing about Southern Nevada, what would it be?
The education system. I grew up in a suburb of Philadelphia and attended public schools from pre-K through high school. I received an excellent education. It is shocking to me that the Clark County School District consistently ranks as one of the worst in the country. The public school system needs to be fixed.
What’s the biggest issue facing Southern Nevada?
Besides the problems with our education system, I would say alternative energy sources and water consumption. Both of these issues need to be addressed for future generations.
What has been your most exciting professional project to date?
Going to trial. Every time, I experience the same nervousness and excitement. It is a similar feeling for me when I’m about to run a half-marathon; the excitement and high from accomplishing the feat cannot be surpassed.
What inspired you to co-found the Animal Law Section in the State Bar of Nevada?
I joke that my family has “sucker” written on their heads for animals. We are all animal lovers and one of the goals in forming the Animal Law Section was to blend my personal passion with my legal experience and educate fellow attorneys on animal law. Since the section was formed, I have presented several continuing-education classes on legislative updates.
Talk about the organization No Kill Las Vegas that you worked with. What did the organization do in the community?
No Kill Las Vegas has done a tremendous job at advocating to make Clark County a “no kill” community. No Kill Las Vegas has used its platform to educate the public as to exactly what is going on in Clark County relating to animal rescue and the community’s animal shelters. If we want to make a change in Clark County and make it “no kill,” then people need to be informed and take action.
How has your legal background helped with your work at Hearts Alive Village?
A lot of nonprofits, like Hearts Alive Village, do not have a lot of resources to pay for legal services. I have used my commercial law and animal law background to help them with transactional issues as well as issues that may arise with the animals they have rescued or adopted out.
What are you reading right now?
I just finished reading “Pendulum: How Past Generations Shape Our Present and Predict Our Future,” by Roy H. Williams and Michael R. Drew, and “Little Beach Street Bakery,” by Jenny Colgan. I like to balance more thought-provoking books with good old-fashioned chick lit.
What do you do after work?
Either one of two paths: 1) Pick my son up and head to the gym, or 2) Pick my son up and have a glass of wine with my in-laws. It’s usually hard for me to pass up the glass of wine.
Describe your management style.
Evolving. I tend to micromanage but, fortunately, I have an amazing assistant who is allowing me to pull back.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
For me, it is hard to plan for the future when I am enjoying what I am doing now. So, continue building my business and enjoy my legal practice. I also have formed a women’s professional group, Women’s Business Council, with my partner, Laura Hess. I’d love to see WBC grow and thrive; I’ve gotten a lot out of the organization and I think other professional women would too.
What is your dream job, outside of your current field?
Having a small bakery. I love to bake cookies, cakes, brownies, you name it.
If you could live anywhere else in the world, where would it be?
I’d split my time between Philadelphia and San Diego. It does not matter how long I live in Las Vegas and how much I enjoy living here, I will always be a Philadelphia native. And you cannot beat the beach in San Diego.
Whom do you admire?
My parents. Until I had a child, I did not understand how challenging it is to balance your family and work obligations, and what it really takes to be a good parent.
What is your biggest pet peeve?
Only one? Irresponsible pet owners. Spay and neuter your pets, and get them microchipped, collared and trained. It drives me crazy when people get rid of their pets because they don’t have time for them anymore or they are getting too old.
Where do you like to go for business lunches?
Downtown Summerlin. Wolfgang Puck, California Pizza Kitchen and Lazy Dog are all great.
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
Patience. Before I had my son, I had zero patience. Over the years, I’ve gotten better but it’s still something I work on.
What is something people might not know about you?
For a one-year period, a good friend and I traveled the United States running in a half-marathon every month.