Today we’d like to introduce you to Joan Suh.
Hi Joan, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I didn’t begin my career in law. I began in ministry. I earned my undergraduate degree in seminary and spent my twenties in full-time ministry while raising three children. That experience shaped how I think about leadership, service, and responsibility.
At 32, I made a strategic decision to pivot. I wanted to work outside the four walls of the church and apply my skills in a broader, more scalable way. I was interested in the legal field, but I approached it deliberately. Before committing to law school, I worked as a paralegal to understand the business, the workflow, and the realities of the profession.
That year was critical. It gave me exposure to case management, client intake, litigation timelines, and firm economics. More importantly, it confirmed that law was a field where I could create measurable impact while building a sustainable business.
Law school was challenging, particularly as a single parent of three, but it reinforced my ability to operate under pressure, manage time efficiently, and execute long-term goals despite constraints. Those skills later became foundational to how I run my firm.
After graduating, I evaluated traditional law firm models and quickly realized they weren’t designed for long-term sustainability for someone with my responsibilities. Fixed schedules, rigid hierarchies, and limited autonomy didn’t align with my need for flexibility—or with how I believed legal services could be delivered more efficiently.
So I built my own firm.
Starting my practice wasn’t a leap of faith. It was a business decision. I wanted control over operations, client experience, and growth strategy. I designed my firm to be lean, responsive, and scalable, while still maintaining high professional standards and personalized service.
Today, my firm reflects a modern approach to law practice: flexible by design, client-focused, and built to adapt. My background in ministry informs my values, my experience as a parent informs my systems, and my legal training drives execution.
Every phase of my journey contributed something essential. Ministry taught me how to lead. Parenthood taught me discipline and efficiency. Law gave me the framework to build something lasting.
I didn’t follow a traditional path, but I built a business that works.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Law school was physically and emotionally demanding as a single parent, and starting a firm without the backing of an established practice came with real financial risk.
In the beginning, survival was the priority. When I first opened my firm, I took whatever cases came my way. I needed to keep the lights on, generate cash flow, and prove to myself that the business could sustain itself. That phase required flexibility and humility, and it meant learning a wide range of legal issues very quickly.
As the firm became more stable, new challenges emerged. I had to make intentional business decisions about focus and growth. I realized that long-term sustainability didn’t come from doing everything—it came from specialization. That’s when I made the strategic choice to narrow my practice areas and focus on personal injury and criminal defense, where I could deliver the most value and build repeatable systems.
There were mistakes, hard lessons, and moments of doubt.
As you know, we’re big fans of JS Law Group, LLC. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
My firm is a client-focused law practice built around clarity, responsiveness, and real-world problem solving. We handle personal injury and criminal defense, representing people during some of the most stressful moments of their lives. After an accident, an arrest, or when everything feels uncertain.
What we’re known for is approachability paired with strong advocacy. Clients don’t feel like a file number in our office. We explain the process clearly, set realistic expectations, and stay accessible throughout the case. Many of our clients come to us overwhelmed and intimidated by the legal system, and our role is to steady that chaos and guide them through it strategically.
We specialize in personal injury cases, particularly motor vehicle accidents, where we focus on maximizing recovery while minimizing stress for the client. On the criminal defense side, we advocate aggressively while also helping clients understand the long-term consequences of decisions they make early in their case. Our background allows us to be both practical and strategic.
Brand-wise, what I’m most proud of is trust. Many of our clients come through referrals, repeat business, or word of mouth. That tells me the brand is resonating not just because of results, but because of how people are treated. Our firm stands for integrity, transparency, and strong representation without intimidation or ego.
What does success mean to you?
Success, to me, is being able to help clients during their most difficult moments. I’ve learned that truly helping someone is never just one thing. It’s not a single financial recovery, a single court appearance, or even a single conversation. There are layers to helping a person. Legal, emotional, practical, and often psychological—and meaningful advocacy requires understanding all of them.
Ultimately, my success is when clients feel like they have a voice, especially when everything feels stacked against them, and they leave the experience not only with resolution, but with a better outlook on life and a clearer perspective on what comes next.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.jslawgroup.net
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jslawgroupllc/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1AnKJWP4ky/?mibextid=wwXIfr
