MEET JODI KIMMEL
Born in Toronto, Jodi moved to New York in 1998 to attend law school at the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law. From the beginning of her career, Jodi has been interested in the judicial system. Jodi's first job after graduating from law school was clerking for a New Jersey Superior Court Judge. She sought this highly competitive position because she wanted to experience the courtroom from the jurist's side of the bench. Following her clerkship, Jodi became a litigator and has spent almost 20 years in courtrooms. Jodi first worked for celebrity divorce lawyer, Raoul Lionel Felder, and then in 2004, Jodi and her husband started their own family law practice.
Family law has been a natural fit for Jodi, enabling her to truly connect with her clients while devoting herself to matters that are deeply personal and important to her individual clients.
Family law is an area of the law that touches all aspects of people's lives and encompasses different areas of the law including criminal, landlord/tenant, and trusts and estates - issues that also come before a Town Justice.
In her practice, Jodi has had the opportunity to appear in many different state courts (Supreme Court, Family Court, Civil Court, the Surrogate's Court, and the Appellate Division); Federal Court; as well as the Bedford Town Court.

A cause close to Jodi's heart also brought her to family law: domestic violence advocacy. In high school she was introduced to this intimate form of violence where 85% of the survivors are female.
During her undergraduate years at McGill University, Jodi volunteered to educate high school students and advise survivors. Jodi then continued to volunteer at domestic violence centers while at law school and then as a practicing attorney. Providing safe, dignified options for survivors has been a key part of Jodi's personal and professional life ever since.

Jodi and Brett moved to Bedford Hills in 2008 where they live with their daughters, Zephyr and Ottilie, who attend Fox Lane Middle School.
Jodi is very involved in many different areas of the community. She is presently co-president of the parent-teacher organization at Fox Lane Middle School; she sits on the Parent President Committee for parent presidents throughout the Bedford Central School District and she helps raise funds for the Foundation for Bedford Central Schools. Jodi chaired the Town of Bedford's Complete Count Committee for the 2020 Census. She drives a route for Bedford's Meals on Wheels program, and she was part of Bedford's COVID-19 volunteer program.
Jodi is a past president of Temple Shaaray Tefila in Bedford Corners. In 2018, Jodi was named part of The Bedford 25: the Most Dedicated, Most Creative, Most Influential.
LEGAL EXPERIENCE & BAR ADMISSIONS
Law Firm of Brett Kimmel, P.C.
Partner, September 2004 - present
Law Firm of Raoul Lionel Felder, P.C.
Associate Attorney, September 2002 - June 2004
The Honorable Lee B. Laskin, Superior Court
Law Clerk, August 2001 - September 2002
Supreme Court, Appellate Division of New York, Third Department, May 2002
Southern District of New York, November 2002
COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP/VOLUNTEER POSITIONS
Fox Lane High School
Parent Liaison for the class of 2025
Bedford Central School District Secondary Task Force | Summer 2020
Member of the task force responsible for helping to structure the academic aspect of re-entry for the 2020-21 school year.
Town of Bedford Meals on Wheels Program | Spring 2020 - Present
Volunteer
New York State Bar Association | Spring 2020 - Winter 2020
COVID-19 Pro Bono Network
Assisted with Unemployment Insurance/Pandemic Unemployment Assistance claims, and was part of a group of lawyers who worked with Governor Cuomo’s office to effect changes to the claims system.
Bedford COVID-19 Volunteer Effort | Spring - Fall 2020
Assisted homebound residents with obtaining groceries, prescription medications, etc.
Chris Burdick for NYS Assembly Campaign | Winter 2019 - Spring 2020
Bedford Field Coordinator for the campaign
Chair of the Town of Bedford's Complete Count Committee | Fall 2019 - Fall 2020
Foundation for Bedford Central Schools | Winter 2019 - 2020
Member of the Host Committee for the 2020 Fundraiser
Fox Lane Middle School
Co-President | Fox Lane Middle School Association | June 2019 - present
Member | BCSD’s Parent President Committee | June 2019 - present
Yearbook Co-Editor | Summer 2020 - Present
School Photographer | Fall 2019 - Present
Member of the Fox Lane Middle School Association | September 2018 - Present
Enrichment Coordinator | Fall 2018 - Present
West Patent Elementary School
Member of West Patent Elementary School Association | Fall 2012 - Spring 2020
Class Parent | Fall 2012 - Spring 2020
Yearbook Co-Editor and School Photographer | Fall 2014 - Spring 2020
Fifth Grade Coordinator | June 2019 - June 2020
SPCA of Westchester
Canine Companion | Fall 2019 - Present
Bedford Democratic Committee
District Leader | Fall 2018 - Present
The Bedford 25
Most Dedicated, Most Creative, Most Influential | 2018 Honoree
Temple Shaaray Tefila
Temple President | May 2018 - June 2019
Officer on Board of Trustees (VP of Education) | June 2016 - June 2019
Trustee on Board of Trustees | June 2015 - June 2019
Book Fair Chair | 2015 - Present
Purim Carnival Co-Chair | 2014 - 2020
Chair of the Education Committee | June 2013 - May 2018
Class Parent | 2009 - 2020
The Hon. Samuel G. Fredman Leadership Development Institute
Westchester Jewish Council
The Institute biennially trains the next generation of Jewish leaders in Westchester County.
Selected to be part of the 2017-18 class.
EDUCATION
Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law
Juris Doctor | June 2001
Honors:
Moot Court Honor Society: Member 1999, Editorial Board Member 2000
Charles H. Revson Law Student Public Interest Fellowship, Summer 2000
Activities:
Monroe Paulsen Competition in Criminal Law: selected as bench memo author
BMI Intellectual Property Competition: twice selected as bench memo author
John Marshall Technology Law Competition: selected as bench memo author
Civil and Criminal Litigation Seminar, Summer 1999
McGill University
Honors Bachelor of Arts with First Class Honors | February 1998
Honors:
Golden Key Honor Society; Dean’s Honor List: 1995-98
Activities:
Art History Students’ Association, President, 1997-98; Member 1995-98
Council Member: McGill University Students’ Association of the Arts, 1995-98
Student Advocate at the Sexual Assault Centre of the McGill Students’ Society (SACOMSS), 1994-98
Studied abroad at Centro Linguistico Italiano Dante Alighieri, Florence, Italy
Recipient of Academic Scholarship
AFFILIATIONS
Bedford Audubon Society
Bedford Democratic Committee
Bedford Historical Society
Bedford Playhouse
Bedford Riding Lanes Association
Bedford Hills Neighborhood Association
Bedford Hills Women’s Club
Friends of John Jay Homestead
Justice Brandeis Law Society
Katonah Museum of Art
New York State Bar Association
Westchester Women’s Bar Association
(Member of the Domestic Violence Committee)
Westchester County Bar Association
Westchester Domestic Violence Council
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