Jacqueline M. O'Donnell graduated from the Honors Program at the University of Scranton in 1987 with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice. Thereafter, she attended Seton Hall Law School full-time, while also working at law firms and the Newark Office of the Public Defender. While at the Public Defender’s Office, she was appointed Director of the Juvenile Justice clinic and was responsible for handling all of the bail hearings in the criminal courts. After law school, she continued with the Adult Division of the Newark Public Defender’s Office and also worked for various prestigious firms in Essex, Berge, and Morris Counties. During this time she practiced medical malpractice, personal injury, and insurance defense work.
In 1993, Ms. O’Donnell opened her law firm known as Jacqueline M. O'Donnell, Attorney at Law in the Sparta Theatre Centre. In 1995, her firm became known as O'Donnell & Dumbroff, until 2014 when it was renamed O'Donnell Law Firm LLC. With Ms. O'Donnell at the helm, this law firm continues to thrive and enjoy a successful reputation based on over 34 years of loyal clients throughout the state of New Jersey.
Ms. O'Donnell was sworn in as President of the Sussex County Bar Association in 2001. After September 11, 2001, she worked tirelessly on behalf of Trial Lawyers Care, which was created to deliver free legal representation to 9/11 families. Trial Lawyers Care became the largest and most successful single pro bono legal representation project in the history of American jurisprudence. Driven by both a national tragedy of unprecedented dimensions and the simple desire to help that had brought them into their profession in the first place, where more than 1000 trial lawyers provided free legal services to the victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Ms. O’Donnell was one of these lawyers; assisting three families of victims here in Sussex County as a result of that horrific event. Ms. O’Donnell was also frequently located at Liberty State Park offering free legal advice in the trailers located there.
Showing both dedication to the practice of law and compassion for her fellow attorneys, Ms. O’Donnell acquired the practice of another local attorney when he was deployed to Iraq. All the income earned on those cases went directly to his family.
Ms. O’Donnell’s integrity, professionalism, and strong core ethics make her stand out among her peers. O'Donnell Law Firm concentrates on personal injury, car accidents, traumatic brain injuries, criminal law, motor vehicle offenses, and municipal court law.
As an integral part of the community, Ms. O'Donnell believes strongly in supporting agencies and organizations that help to serve the less fortunate. Consistent with that philosophy, she is an active member of the Sparta VFW Post 7248, Saint Kateri Parish, and Project Self Sufficiency. Along with this, she has been recognized and has received numerous awards for her Pro Bono work with Legal Services and Domestic Abuse Services (DASI) during her 34 years of practice.
Natalie Valentin brings extensive paralegal expertise to the O’Donnell Law Firm. As a key member of the team, she manages all firm files, oversees document preparation, and handles a range of tasks including interacting with insurance companies, drafting pleadings, legal research, and gathering and analyzing evidence. Natalie is dedicated to delivering exceptional customer service and building personal connections with each client. Her passion for helping others drives her to provide clarity and support during challenging times, from initial intake through to the resolution of each case. She prides herself on forming strong client relationships and meticulously attending to details throughout the legal process.
Fluent in Spanish, Natalie effectively communicates with a diverse client base, ensuring that every voice is heard and understood. Her commitment to advocacy and personalized service supports the firm’s mission and enhances the attorneys' ability to serve their clients.
Originally from the South Bronx, Natalie has worked in New York as well as Essex and Hudson County. Since moving to Morris County in 2013, Natalie has enjoyed utilizing that knowledge to best serve the clients who seek assistance from O’Donnell Law Firm. In her spare time, Natalie keeps busy with her son who is actively involved in Boy Scouts and town sports. They love spending family time outdoors, and especially boating on Lake Hopatcong. They also enjoy camping at The Great Divide Campground located in Sussex County and camping at Knoebels Amusement Resorts in PA.