A simple synthesis method is shown to be effective to produce side-chain liquid crystalline ionomers. The method is based on random copolymerization of a methacrylate monomer bearing a mesogenic group with the methacrylic acid as comonomer; the copolymer is partially neutralized to various degrees to form ionomers. Differential scanning calorimetry measurements show that the liquid crystalline behavior is modified by the presence of ionic aggregates, which is reflected, in the present case, by a depression of the nematic to isotropic transition temperature and enthalpy.