Jessica Gillespie

Jessica Gillespie is a Legal Editor and Nolo’s Research Director. Her articles appear on Nolo.com, CriminalDefenseLawyer.com, and Lawyers.com.

Education. Jessica received a B.A. from the University of Virginia, an M.S. in Library and Information Science from Long Island University, and an M.A. in United States History from North Carolina State University. She also did doctoral work in history at the University of Tennessee, where she focused her research on Progressive Era reform movements in the Appalachian South.

Working at Nolo. Jessica joined the Nolo Editorial team in 2014. At Nolo, Jessica conducts legal research and writes and edits articles across many areas of practice, including estate planning, criminal law, and personal injury. She is also the current editor of Nolo’s Legal Forms for Starting & Running a Small Business and a cocreator of many of Nolo’s online legal forms, including the online LLC and online corporation formation services.

Before Nolo. In addition to her background in academia, Jessica has years of experience working in law libraries. Before coming to Nolo, Jessica managed the U.S., E.U., and U.N. documents collections at New York University’s Law Library and worked in the library of a large law firm in Richmond, Virginia, where she provided technical services support and research assistance to attorneys and staff.


Articles By Jessica Gillespie

The Differences Between Robbery and Burglary
Some use the term “robbery” when a “burglary” has happened, and vice versa. The words actually refer to different crimes, with their own legal definitions and penalties.
Online North Dakota LLC FAQ
Get instant answers to the most common questions about Nolo's Online North Dakota LLC.
Online South Dakota LLC FAQ
Get instant answers to the most common questions about Nolo's Online Alaska LLC.
Online Vermont LLC FAQ
Get instant answers to the most common questions about Nolo's Online Vermont LLC.
Online West Virginia LLC FAQ
Get answers to your questions about forming a West Virginia LLC with Nolo's online formation service.
Criminal Trespassing Law
Criminal trespass involves being on someone else’s property without permission. But the crime isn’t as simple as just being where you’re not supposed to.
Online Wisconsin Corporation FAQ
Get instant answers to the most common questions about Nolo's Online Wisconsin Corporation.
Online Massachusetts Corporation FAQ
Get instant answers to the most common questions about Nolo's Online Massachusetts Corporation.
Aid in Dying in South Carolina
South Carolina has never officially considered adopting an aid-in-dying law.
Wrongful Death Lawsuits in Texas
A look at wrongful death claims in Texas, including who can file the lawsuit, types of potential damages, and more.