About Jessica
Jessica McKinney built her legal foundation at St. Edward’s University, where she earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in International Business in 2005. She later attended Drake University Law School and received her Juris Doctor in 2013. Those academic years shaped an approach that blends business understanding with courtroom work.
After law school, McKinney moved into practice across multiple jurisdictions. She is admitted to practice in Texas and Iowa and is also admitted to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. That mix of state and federal admissions has informed how she handles matters that cross geographic and procedural lines.
Her early career included courtroom appearances and brief drafting in both trial and appellate settings. Colleagues describe her as methodical in preparation and direct in oral argument. She has experience managing case strategy from pleadings through appeal. The appellate credential in the Eighth Circuit indicates time spent on legal research and persuasive writing at a federal level.
McKinney’s training in international business and subsequent legal work give her a practical view of commercial disputes. She approaches complex factual records the way a businessperson would: identify the decisive issues, prioritize evidence, and present a clear story to judges or juries. That perspective shapes how she frames claims and defenses and how she advises clients about risk and next steps.
Throughout her career she has balanced courtroom work with client counseling. She is known for preparing detailed briefs and for investing time in deposition preparation. Her practice has involved working with businesses and individuals on matters that require both litigation skill and a sense of transactional context.
McKinney practices at McKinney Vos, where she handles matters in state and federal court. She continues to take appeals and tries cases where the facts and law require close attention. She is currently engaged in litigation and appellate work at McKinney Vos, concentrating on civil litigation and appellate matters.
