Jillian Estes - Associate

Jillian Estes joined James, Hoyer Newcomer & Smiljanich in September 2008 with a passion for helping the underprivileged and disabled, and advocating for “the little guy.”  She is an associate with the qui tam/ whistleblower division of the firm.

Prior to joining James Hoyer, she interned with the Eighth Judicial Circuit Probate Division in Gainesville, FL. She also served as a law clerk with Moody, Salzman & Lash in Gainesville.  Jillian’s career in advocacy started in the International Division of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, where she worked in case management from 2004-2005. There, Jillian helped coordinate the first known recovery of a missing child abducted from the United States to Thailand. The recovery involved four government agencies working together along with Thai national police.  Jillian describes it as “one of the most inspiring events I’ve ever been a part of.”

Jillian graduated cum laude from the University of Florida College of Law in 2008. Prior to law school, she completed her undergraduate work at the University of Florida, where she graduated summa cum laude with a B.A. in Criminology. Jillian is a member of the Florida Bar.

Jillian volunteers her time as pro bono attorney helping parents whose children were abducted into the United States. In her spare time, she enjoys reading and all types of water sports. She has gone white-water rafting all over the world (Alaska, North Carolina, Costa Rica, Israel), been waterfall rappelling in Costa Rica, climbed waterfalls in Jamaica and completed the swimming leg for triathlon relay teams several times. Jillian lives in Tampa with her husband, also an attorney with James Hoyer, and their two dogs.