Jessica Hodge

Jessica is a lawyer in our personal compensation team in Brisbane. She graduated from the University of Queensland in 2015 with a Bachelor of Arts/Laws (Hons). Jessica credits her academic achievement to the Australian Veterans’ Children’s Assistance Trust, who generously financially assisted her whilst at university.

Whilst at university, Jessica competed in prestigious national and international mooting competitions. She won the University of Queensland’s witness examination competition in 2014 and has adjudicated this competition since. She is a self-confessed nerd, whose legal interests include criminal law/procedure, liability insurance and evidence law. 

Jessica started competing in speech and drama competitions when she was 4 years old. Before “retiring” 20 years later, she won a number of prizes, including the speech and drama championship and aggregate at the Queensland Eisteddfod in 2012. She completed a Diploma in Speaking and Communicating with the Australian College of Music in 2014. 

Jessica’s legal career started in 2012 when she started working as a barrister’s clerk/research assistant during her university holidays. Since then, she has worked exclusively in litigation, including as a defendant insurance lawyer. 

Jessica works in the personal compensation team at Hall Payne Lawyers. She assists clients with: 

• workers’ compensation claims (across Queensland, Northern Territory and Comcare schemes); 
• Workers’ Compensation Regulator appeals; 
• motor vehicle accident claims;
• public and product liability personal compensation claims; and
• applications under the National Redress Scheme for victims of institutionalised sexual abuse.

These matters include claims for both physical and psychiatric injuries. 

She strives to always provide clients with practical and commercial advice. She is passionate about doing her best for her clients and prides herself on being down-to-earth and approachable. 

Outside of work, Jessica spends her time looking after her “little zoo”. She rescues and keeps companion parrots, the majority of whom have health or behavioural issues resulting from abuse or neglect. She firmly believes that every parrot deserves to have the best possible life. She also volunteers with her husband for the St Vincent de Paul Society, conducting home visits and distributing financial assistance to the less fortunate.