About Amanda N. Jelks!

Hi! I'm Amanda Jelks (formerly known as Amanda Ray). Thanks for taking the time to learn more about me and my firm.

I am a Chattanooga native who attended the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga for undergrad and the University of Memphis for law school, both on academic scholarships. I had the distinct pleasure of working with the corporate legal department of Pinnacle Airlines (now known as Endeavor Air) during my last year of law school. Then, I spent the first five years of my life as a Chattanooga lawyer at a larger, regional firm (Chambliss, Bahner & Stophel, PC) where I handled complex business matters for clients ranging from entrepreneurs and small business owners to international corporations.

I launched Jelks Law in the summer of 2015. My law practice focuses primarily on providing a peace of mind to entrepreneurs and small business owners through my business legal services and estate/succession planning. As business owner myself, I understand not only the legal concerns of business owners but I also have a real world view of what it takes to operate a successful business. Let me help you protect the business you've worked so hard to build.

Community Involvement

Apart from my business, I am a motivational speaker. Since 2001, I have given motivational talks to diverse audiences at schools, colleges, churches, and nonprofits to help individuals overcome tremedous odds to reach their maximum potential. Although it may not be written on my face, I overcame some pretty difficult situations to get to where I am today and, even more so, where I'm going. Read more about my journey from being a teenage mom to valedictorian (while working full time) to college graduate in 2.5 years and more in the Chattanooga Times Free Press and also the Hamilton County Herald.

I am honored to serve on the Board of Directors for the City of Chattanooga's Health, Educational and Housing Facility Boar, Chattanooga Women's Leadership Institute, and the Tennessee Law Association for Women. I also serve on the advisory boards for the Diversity and Inclusion Committee of the Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce and the MOMentum Network. From 2013 to 2016, I served on the board of directors for Chattanooga Room in the Inn, a homeless shelter for women and children which supplies women with the resources necessary to end the cycle of homelessness. I am also a former board member of the Chattanooga Theatre Centre.

Read more about my engagement with the local community here .

Memberships

• The Chattery Board Member (2023 - present)

• United Way of Greater Chattanooga Board Member (2021 - present)

• Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce

• Southeast Tennessee Law Association for Women - Communications Chair (2014-2016)

• Chattanooga Bar Association

• Chattanooga Women's Leadership InstituteBoard Member (2018 - 2021)

• Tennessee Bar Association

• Georgia Bar Association

• American Inns of Court, Brock-Cooper Chapter (2012-2014)

• Tennessee Law Association for Women Board Member (2019 - present)

Awards

• Best of the Best Estate Planning Firm by the Chattanooga Times Free Press in 2021 and 2022

• Best Attorney by Chattanooga Business Elite in 2020

• Emerging Business of the Year award by the Urban League of Chattanooga (2018)

• Rising Star in Business Law by Super Lawyers (2016-2020)

• Top 20 Under 40 Young Professionals in Chattanooga award by Chatter Magazine and Chattanooga Times Free Press (2017)

• Pro Bono Excellence Award Recipient from Legal Aid of East Tennessee (2011 and 2012)

Noteworthy

• Graduate of the Tennessee Bar Association's Leadership Law Program (2023)

• Served as an Executive Business Mentor for the Public Education Foundation's Principal Leadership Academy (2017-2018)

• "The Art of Negotiation for Female Entrepreneurs" Co-Host of Startup Week Event (2016) & Co-Presenter at Chatt Women Mean Business (2017)

• "Entrepreneurship 101: From Lawyer to Law Firm Owner" CLE Presenter, Chattanooga Trial Lawyers' Association (2016)

• "Rising Surge of the Female Entrepreneur" Panel Moderator for Feminology, Startup Week (2015) (covered by Huffington Post)

• Commencement Speaker, Bethel Christian Academy (2013)

• "E-Discovery Practice & Suggestions" CLE Presenter, American Inns of Court (2013)

• Street Law Diversity Pipeline Program Presenter with BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee (2012)