Why Jacqueline Friedland Left the Law to Tell the Stories That Matter

Let’s just start here: how many of us dream of writing novels… and then actually do it? Yeah, exactly. Meet Jacqueline Friedland—lawyer-turned-bestselling-author, mom of four, and proof that yes, you can leave the high-status career and still win.

In this week’s episode of Possibilities with Monique de Maio, we dive into Jacqueline’s journey from commercial litigator (a.k.a. defending tobacco giants and wondering why) to full-blown fiction powerhouse. And before you ask: yes, she wrote five books and raised four kids in under seven years. Let’s all take a collective deep breath.

From NYU Law to Storytelling That Actually Matters

Jacqueline didn’t hate law because she was bad at it—she was actually good, which made it harder to leave. She was a great writer, a natural communicator. But somewhere between litigation memos and billable hours, she realized her heart wasn’t in it.

What was in her heart? Books. Stories. That “what if” itch that only writers understand. She enrolled in an MFA program at Sarah Lawrence while still juggling babies and part-time teaching. Because that’s what real pivots look like: layered, unglamorous, and built around nap schedules.

She published her first novel just as her youngest started kindergarten. And she hasn’t stopped since.

Writing with a Mission

Jacqueline writes both historical and contemporary women’s fiction—but make no mistake, her stories say something. Her latest novel, Counting Backwards, is part legal thriller, part wake-up call about reproductive rights and institutional abuse.

The idea came from two real events:

• A 1927 Supreme Court case (Buck v. Bell) where a 17-year-old girl was forcibly sterilized under the eugenics movement.
• A 2020 article titled The Uterus Collector about alleged forced sterilizations in a U.S. immigration detention center.

Yes, you read that right: 100 years apart. Same nightmare.

Counting Backwards follows a young attorney, Jess Gidney, who stumbles into a case that spirals into an Erin Brockovich-style fight for justice. It’s smart, emotional, and deeply urgent. This isn’t fluff fiction—this is fiction with teeth.

You Can Have It All—Just Not All at Once

Jacqueline is the first to admit: it’s not about balance. It’s about integration. She fiercely protects her writing time. (Spoiler: no, she won’t grab lunch just because you’re free at 12:30.)

Her honesty about motherhood, creative discipline, and her “just keep swimming” approach to publishing is a masterclass in grit. She’s also refreshingly blunt about how writing is work—not a hobby, not a vibe, not something you squeeze in during commercials. It’s a real job. Full stop.

Advice for the Pivot-Curious

To every woman secretly Googling MFA programs during Zoom meetings, Jacqueline’s advice is clear:

• Don’t let other people talk you out of your passion by pointing out the hard parts. Every job has them.
• Be prepared for the long game. Her publishing story started in 2004. Her first major book deal? 2025!
• Start where you are. On the side. In the margins. During nap time. It all counts.
• You don’t need to do it full time to be taken seriously—but you do need to show up like it matters.

Final Mic Drop: If the Dream is Big Enough…

Jacqueline lives by the quote: “If the dream is big enough, the odds don’t matter.”

And that, my friends, is your cue. Whether you’re writing a book, building a business, or finally walking away from the thing that doesn’t light you up anymore—know this: your passion deserves protection. Your time is worth safeguarding.

And your dream? Still waiting on you.

👉 Jacqueline Friedland’s newest book on Amazon