Jennifer Schaffner

Special Counsel

303.529.6374

jschaffner@griffithslawpc.com

Paralegal

Marla Purdy – mpurdy@griffithslawpc.com

Education

Wayne State University School of Law, JD, magna cum laude
University of Michigan, B.A., English, with High Distinction
Colorado Collaborative Divorce Professionals Training

Areas of Practice

Family Law; Appeals

Jennifer Schaffner

About Jennifer Schaffner

Jennifer joined Griffiths Law as special counsel in 2020, where she brings her diverse legal experience to clients undergoing family transitions. At Griffiths Law, Jennifer handles a broad array of family law matters. She has a particular interest in cases that raise novel issues of law and has achieved successful outcomes for her clients in specialized areas of family law such as common law marriages, UCCJEA issues, complex financial matters, and challenging parenting time concerns. Her clients appreciate her professionalism, attention to detail, and ability to work effectively with opposing parties and counsel. While comfortable in the courtroom, she is also trained in Collaborative Law and has worked with many clients to achieve favorable results through that model of practice.

An experienced appellate practitioner, Jennifer is unique in the family law bar for having handled appeals in all three appellate courts in Colorado, including the Colorado Supreme Court and Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals. She was recently successful in appealing the trial court’s termination of maintenance in the published case, In re Marriage of Thorstad, which involved a challenge to the termination of maintenance due to the payor’s retirement, and recently successfully defended another appeal involving a reversal in a published opinion of parenting time in which the court clarified the statutory standard for modifying parenting time following a motion to restrict.

Jennifer has been licensed in Colorado since 2000 when she began her career as a transactional and litigation attorney in several large, national firms. Unique among family law attorneys for her diverse legal background, Jennifer gained valuable experience early in her career working on mergers and acquisitions, initial public offerings, and complex, commercial cases. Jennifer was first introduced to family law in her role as a staff attorney at the Colorado Court of Appeals, where she drafted appellate opinions in family law and dependency and neglect cases. Drawn to this area of practice as a way to make an immediate impact on client’s lives, Jennifer has practiced family law exclusively since 2016.

Jennifer is involved in the community, having served as a volunteer in the self-represented litigant clinics in counties across the Front Range and mountains. She also volunteers her time at community “ask a lawyer” events and has served as a coach and scoring panelist for the High School Mock Trial program. In her free time, Jennifer can be found running, cycling, skiing, playing tennis, and enjoying time with her family.

“The best attorneys are part of the solution rather than part of the problem and strive to leave each client better than they found them.”

-Jennifer Schaffner

Reviews

I cannot say enough positive things about Jennifer and her work. She took the time to understand our legal and financial goals.

Former Client – June 2020, AVVO Review

Jennifer is phenomenal to work with! She is attentive, competent, and thorough. She knows the law back and forth and will be sure to know your case just as well.

Former Client – June 2020, Google Review

Not only does she give top-notch legal service…she gives peace of mind.

Former Client – June 2020, Google Review

Honors & Distinctions

Memberships & Community Involvement

  • Member of the Pro Bono Screening Committee for the Colorado Bar Association Pro Bono Appellate program
  • Colorado Bar Association, Family Law Section
  • Arapahoe County Bar Association
  • Metro Denver Interdisciplinary Committee
  • Arapahoe County Mock Trial Tournament Coach (2020, 2022) and Judge (2018, 2019)
  • First and Fifth Judicial District Self-Represented Litigant Clinic Volunteer (2017-2018)
  • Extreme Community Makeover Volunteer (2020)

Authorship, Presentations & Notable Accomplishments

Pro Bono CommitmentPro Bono Commitment