Journey to Esquire®️ The Podcast

In this episode, we pass the mic to Shamika T. Askew to discuss failing forward in life.

She was born and raised in Michigan but has made Florida her permanent residency. Prior to moving to Florida, Ms. Askew worked for a state governmental agency, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR), for eight years. During those years, her love for public service derived. As a public servant, she performed several duties, including reviewing contracts to determine compliance, drafting pleadings and motions, answering discovery requests, and conducting contested case hearings. She served in multiple roles, which included: Legal Policy Analyst and liaison between the MDNR and the Michigan Department of Attorney’s General’s Office.

Upon her relocation to Florida, she obtained contractual positions at various firms. She handled several areas of litigation, including drafting and responding to pleadings, discovery, mediation, and trial preparation. Additionally, she represented clients in civil non-jury trials.

Shamika graduated from Tennessee State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration. She obtained her Juris Doctor from Thomas M. Cooley Law School, concentrating in Litigation. While in law school, she enhanced her advocacy skills by participating in multiple moot courts and mock trial competitions.

Attorney Askew has a passion for serving. She is a volunteer Attorney Guardian Ad Litem. She also mentors at-risk juvenile girls by visiting the juvenile facilities on a monthly basis.Ms. Askew is a firm believer in work-life balance. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, relaxing on the beach, and attending Love First Christian Center.

Connect with Shamika on Instagram, Tik Tok: @askewlawoffice

Facebook: askewlawoffice.com

Money Mindset Seminar by Joseline- https://flayld.org/2023/04/yldmoneytalk-series-shift-your-money-mindset/

Social Media

Website: www.journeytoesquire.com

Email: info@journeytoesquire.com

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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JourneytoEsq/

YT: https://youtube.com/@journeytoesquire

Twitter: @JourneytoEsq                

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In this episode, we pass the mic to Briaunna Buckner Durhal to discuss appellate practice and mentorship. Briaunna participated in The Appellate Project’s inaugural Mentorship Program and is passionate about ensuring our highest courts reflect our communities Briaunna Buckner Durhal currently serves as a judicial law clerk for the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. Prior to that, Briaunna served as a law clerk to the Honorable Bernice B. Donald of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. Briaunna received a B.S. in Criminal Justice and an M.P.A. in Public Administration from Jacksonville State University. She received her J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School in 2021.  During law school, she worked as a summer associate for Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP and Lightfoot, Franklin, and White law firm. Briaunna was also hired for a prestigious clerkship in the Ranking Member’s office for the United States Senate Judiciary Committee.   During law school, Briaunna received numerous awards recognizing her civic contributions and academic achievements. Notably, she was named 1L of the Year, she received the Outstanding Student Achievement Award for receiving the highest grade in Civil Procedure I, and she was presented the Women’s Leadership Award. A zealous advocate, Briaunna achieved great success for her oral and written advocacy.  In 2019, Briaunna won the Campbell DeLong Trial Advocacy Competition and earned a place on the school’s Moot Court Board.  During her 3L year, Briaunna made history by being the first female African American to be appointed to the University of Michigan’s Supreme Court and the first female African American to be named Young Alum of the Year at Jacksonville State University.  Pro bono work is incredibly important to Briaunna. During law school, she sought several opportunities to provide pro bono legal services to residents and small businesses in the Detroit area. Through the University of Michigan’s legal clinics and externships, Briaunna helped write an appellate brief to the Sixth Circuit defending an indigent person accused of a crime.  She also co-wrote an amicus brief to the Michigan Supreme Court urging the Court to clarify an ambiguous provision in Michigan’s Consumer Protection law.  In her free time, Briaunna loves to spend time with her daughter and fiancé, Zola and Fred. She also is a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. www.theappeallateproject.org

In this episode, we pass the mic to Lorna Brown-Burton to discuss pursuing service through bar associations, both voluntary and mandatory.

Lorna E. Brown-Burton is an “AV” rated attorney who is licensed to practice law in the State of Florida since 1987 and the Southern District of Florida since 1990. Ms. Brown-Burton’s primary area of practice is workers’ compensation defense representing Employers/Self-Insureds/Carriers for over 30 years and also has experience in the area of Labor and Employment and Social Security Disability as well as representing individuals in Chapters 7 & 13 bankruptcy matters.

Ms. Brown-Burton is a past adjunct professor at Broward College in the Paralegal Degree Program. Prior to joining Lubell | Rosen as a Partner managing the Workers’ Compensation department, she owned and operated her own firm, which was certified as an MWBE/SBE from February of 2004 to August 31, 2014 and from September 1, 2014 to July 31, 2018 Ms. Brown-Burton merged her firm with The DeMicco Law Firm, P.A. where she co-founded the firm, Brown-Burton & DeMicco, PLLC.

She was an active member of the Legal Aid Board of Directors and has held several officer positions which, included President.

Ms. Brown-Burton is a member of the Workers’ Compensation Section of The Florida Bar, a prior elected member of The Florida Bar Board of Governors, Young Lawyers Division, as the Seventeenth Circuit representative, with a special appointment to the Board of Governors, Young Lawyers Division, for the 2002-2003 term and is a former elected President of the Young Lawyers Section of the Broward County Bar Association for the 1996-1997 term. Ms. Brown-Burton completed two 3-year terms on the Florida Bar Grievance Committee “17F” and “17E”, respectively and also served as Chair of the “17E” Grievance committee.

Fun Fact- Initially, I thought I wanted to be a fashion designer and merchandiser until that faithful day on my last day of High School.

Ms. Brown-Burton's Social Media:

Lornab@Lebburtonlaw.com

Linkedin-https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorna-brown-burton-3b76127/

JTE Social Media:

Website: www.journeytoesquire.com Email: info@journeytoesquire.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/dive... Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JourneytoEsq/ Twitter: @JourneytoEsq https://mobile.twitter.com/journeytoesq Instagram: @JourneytoEsq https://www.instagram.com/journeytoesq/

YouTube: YT: https://www.youtube.com/@journeytoesquire

In this episode, we pass the mic to Sherriee Detzler to discuss preparing for law school and the bar exam.

Sherriee Detzler works for AccessLex Institute as the National Director--Helix Bar Engagement. In that role, she is a legal educator and guides students on best practices for preparing for the bar exam while spearheading the first nonprofit Bar Review exam Company which sells its courses and products at cost. She is an educator, attorney, coach, change agent and team leader. Her passion - mentoring and coaching law students to help them prepare for and pass the bar exam. In partnership with law schools and professors across the country, She's worked in the development of superior content and materials for both live and e-learning curriculums resulting in increased bar passage rates for nearly 10,000 students annually. She states about her career "I consider myself fortunate to be able to use my education and experience to support the growth, development, and success of new attorneys at the onset of their careers. I’m elated to be part of the AccessLex Institute Team in furthering our mission of Empowering the next generation of lawyers." Sherriee graduated from Wayne State University Law School, where she obtained her JD, Oakland University, where she obtained her BA; and Macomb Community College, where she obtained her AA degree.

Sherriee Detzler-https://www.linkedin.com/in/sherriee-detzler/

AccessLex Institute -accesslex.org Helix Bar Review- helixbarreview.org ; Bar Associations mentioned - michbar.org; macombbar.org Social Media Website: www.journeytoesquire.com Email: info@journeytoesquire.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/dive... Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JourneytoEsq/ Twitter: @JourneytoEsq https://mobile.twitter.com/journeytoesq Instagram: @JourneytoEsq https://www.instagram.com/journeytoesq/ YT: https://www.youtube.com/@journeytoesquire

In this episode, we pass the mic to Class of 2020 Scholar Forest Sutton, a graduate of Stetson University College of Law who will give his Scholar Presentation and share the program's impact on his "journey to esquire."

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info@journeytoesquire.com

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In this episode, we pass the mic to Aliza Shatzman to discuss federal judicial clerkships and The Legal Accountability Project.

Aliza Shatzman is the President and Founder of The Legal Accountability Project, a nonprofit aimed at ensuring that law clerks have positive clerkship experiences while extending support and resources to those who do not. Aliza earned her BA from Williams College and her JD from Washington University School of Law. After law school, Aliza clerked in D.C. Superior Court during the 2019-2020 term. In March 2022, Aliza submitted written testimony for a House Judiciary Subcommittee hearing about the lack of workplace protections in the federal judiciary, detailing her personal experience with harassment and retaliation by a former D.C. judge, in order to advocate for the Judiciary Accountability Act, legislation that would extend Title VII protections to judiciary employees, including law clerks. Aliza now writes and speaks regularly about judicial accountability and clerkships. She has been published in numerous law journals and other forums. Fun fact I’m a golfer - I played on the women’s varsity golf team at Williams College.

Fun fact I’m a golfer - I played on the women’s varsity golf team at Williams College.

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In this episode, we pass the mic to Class of 2020 Scholar Adrianna Laforest a graduate of WMU Cooley Law School who will give her Scholar Presentation and share the program's impact on her "journey to esquire."

www.journeytoesquire.com

info@journeytoesquire.com

@JourneytoEsquire

In this episode, we pass the mic to Class of 2019 Scholar Jemima Pierre Zetrenne , a graduate of WMU Cooley Law School  who will give her Scholar Presentation and share the program's impact on her "journey to esquire." 

www.journeytoesquire.com

info@journeytoesquire.com

@JourneytoEsquire

In this episode, we pass the mic to Jacob Delorme to discuss finding inspiration from role models in law.

Jacob is an Assistant State Attorney Assistant State Attorney at the State Attorney's Office, 13th Judicial Circuit ·  where he manages caseload between 200 – 400 cases for various misdemeanors, conducts legal research, and drafting of legal documents necessary for case preparation, Interpreting laws, rules, and regulations in management and evaluation of cases, and Interviewing victims and witnesses and analyzing cases to determine their overall strength.

He received his JD from Stetson University College of Law and his undergraduate degree from the University of Central Florida, where he majored in legal studies. He interned at the Southern Poverty Law Center while in law school and was a law clerk at a law firm.

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In this episode, we pass the mic to Devan Hardaway to discuss pursuing persistence on the journey to esquire.

She is an Assistant State Attorney at Florida's 13th Judicial Circuit. She has worked in that office for several years in different capacities and in different divisions. Ms. Hardaway is a Florida Supreme Court Mediator certified in County and Civil Circuit Mediation. She is also a volunteer Guardian Ad Litem, writer, and photographer and was, at one time, a music teacher.  She discovered a love of criminal law and prosecution when she began her law school journey.

Before becoming an attorney, she worked as a teacher and in other positions. Devan attended WMU Cooley Law School and Fort Valley State University, where she obtained a Bachelor of Arts (BA), English Writing and Political Science Bachelor of Arts (BA), English Writing and Political Science. She participated in Presidential Scholars, was a Student Ambassador, Teaching Assistant, Academic and Athletics Tutor, WIN Lab Writing Editor.

Fun fact- she took the bar exam seven times before she passed!

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@JourneytoEsquire

In this episode, we pass the mic to Judith Scully to discuss pursuing social justice in law school.

Judith A.M. Scully has been a law professor since 1996. She joined the Stetson University College of Law in 2009 as a tenured full professor.  From August 2011 until May 2017, she served as the William Reese Smith Distinguished Professor of Law for the purpose of developing public service, pro bono and professionalism programs for Stetson law students. For several years she directed the Stetson Law School Innocence Initiative. She is the founder and co-director of Stetson Law School's Social Justice Advocacy Concentration program and the Alliance for Advocacy and Philanthropy.  She currently co-chairs the St. Petersburg Higher Education for Racial Equity (SPHERE) Consortium and was a founding co-chair of the Florida Law Schools' Consortium on Racial Justice from 2020-2022.

She teaches courses in Criminal Law, Constitutional Law, Social Justice Advocacy, as well as seminars related to Race and American law and international human rights.

Prior to teaching, Professor Scully managed her own law firm in the City of Chicago where she primarily represented plaintiffs in civil rights cases and defendants in criminal cases. She has served as an arbitrator for the Circuit Court of Cook County, an administrative law judge for the Cook County Commission on Human Rights and was the Deputy Director of the Board of Ethics for the City of Chicago.

She has written several articles on eugenics, forced sterilization, and contraceptive abuse. Her work on reproductive rights has been presented at various international forums, including the International Women’s Health and Human Rights Meeting in New Delhi, India; the 8th International Women’s Health Conference in Brazil; and the United Nations World Conference on Women in Beijing. In 1990, as a member of the National Conference of Black Lawyers, Professor Scully worked with the African National Congress (ANC) to help draft the constitution for a Free and Democratic South Africa. Her suggestions for protecting women’s reproductive rights were the basis of South Africa’s constitutional provision guaranteeing a woman’s right to reproductive choice. Her scholarship which also focuses on race and the criminal legal system has appeared in the Wisconsin International Law Journal, Columbia University Law School’s race law journal, the UCLA Women’s Law Journal, the Toledo Law Review, the Encyclopedia of American Civil Liberties and the Encyclopedia of the United States Supreme Court.

She is a passionate advocate for racial justice, women's rights and criminal legal reform.

Social Media

Website: www.journeytoesquire.com

Email: info@journeytoesquire.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/dive...

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JourneytoEsq/

YT: https://youtube.com/@journeytoesquire

Twitter: @JourneytoEsq                

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Instagram: @JourneytoEsq 

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In this episode, we pass the mic to Kymberly Porter  to discuss being a parent while in law school.

Kymberly is originally from Mobile, Alabama. She has had an interesting journey to her current position as a licensed attorney and Law Student Coach. 

After high school, she attended Alabama A&M University for four years until she became unexpectedly pregnant, with only seven classes left until graduation. she moved back home to Mobile, and took 2 years off from school to begin raising her daughter, Amber. Three years later, she finally decided to go to law school after many difficult life circumstances. In the Fall of 2017 she began her first semester at Faulkner University, Thomas Goode Jones School of Law in Montgomery, Alabama.  Kymberly was selected to serve on the executive committee for the Board of Advocates, Faulkner Law's trial advocacy program. Further, Kymberly served as the Executive Editor for the Faulkner Law Review that year. After persevering through a sudden change to online final exams, Kymberly graduated ranked number twelve in her class. Upon graduation, she received a Juris Doctor as well as a Masters of Laws in Dispute Resolution. 

   Although studying for the bar during a pandemic was difficult, Kymberly passed the Alabama bar Exam on her first attempt and was hired almost immediately as an Assistant District Attorney.

Website: theportersolution.com

LinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/in/kymberly-porter-esq-50389b84

Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/theportersolution/

Social Media Website: www.journeytoesquire.com

Email: info@journeytoesquire.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/dive...

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JourneytoEsq/

Twitter: @JourneytoEsq 

https://mobile.twitter.com/journeytoesq

Instagram: @JourneytoEsq

https://www.instagram.com/journeytoesq/

In this episode, we pass the mic to Azmatullah Mustahsan to discuss being an introverted lawyer. 

Azmatullah "Azi" is an Assistant State Attorney, for the 13th Judicial Circuit in Florida.  He is  a recent graduate of WMU Cooley Law School, where he received my Juris Doctorate degree. He received his undergraduate degree from The University at Buffalo where he received his BA in Political Science and Legal Studies. He has worked in various areas of law including, criminal prosecution/defense, personal injury, and family law.

Fun fact: I am a fan of the one and only Buffalo Bills.

Social Media

Website: www.journeytoesquire.com

Email: info@journeytoesquire.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/dive...

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JourneytoEsq/

YT: https://youtube.com/@journeytoesquire

Twitter: @JourneytoEsq                

https://mobile.twitter.com/journeytoesq

Instagram: @JourneytoEsq 

https://www.instagram.com/journeytoesq/

In this episode, we pass the mic to Katharine Haddad  to discuss allyship

Katharine Haddad is an Assistant State Attorney at State Attorney's Office, 13th Judicial Circuit. She is the President-Elect of the Young Lawyers Section of the St. Petersburg Bar Association. She graduated from the University of Florida - Fredric G. Levin College of Law University of Florida - Fredric G. Levin College of Law in 2018, where she was on the • Moot Court Team and received her Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in History in 2017.

Fun fact: I used to tutor math, ranging from algebra to calculus! St. Petersburg Bar Association Young Lawyers Section: https://www.stpetebar.com/page/YLS

In this episode, we pass the mic to Class of 2020 Scholar Ana Lleonart a graduate of Stetson University College of Law who will give her Scholar Presentation and share the program's impact on her "journey to esquire."

www.journeytoesquire.com

info@journeytoesquire.com

@JourneytoEsquire

In this episode, we pass the mic to Class of 2020 Scholar Justin Bell, a graduate of Stetson University College of Law who will give his Scholar Presentation and share the program's impact on his "journey to esquire."

www.journeytoesquire.com

info@journeytoesquire.com

@JourneytoEsquire

In this episode, we pass the mic to Darnesha Carter Foli. 

Darnesha Carter Foli is a board member of Diversity Access Pipeline, Inc. She has a variety of experience within commercial litigation. She has been instrumental in getting clients favorable results in matters involving product liability, trade secret misappropriation, construction, employment, healthcare, insurance, and securities law. She also has complex litigation experience, defending corporations in class actions, in multi district litigation suits (MDLs), and in multi-jurisdictional matters in both state and federal courts.  Before starting her practice, Darnesha served as a senior law clerk to the Honorable Mary S. Scriven of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida. There, she conducted legal research, drafted orders, managed and monitored a portion of the case docket, and assisted the Eleventh Circuit Pattern Jury Instruction Committee. Darnesha was the valedictorian of her class at Stetson University College of Law, the first African American woman in the school's history to achieve that honor. She was also awarded the Edward D. Foreman Most Distinguished Student Award, which recognizes one student each year for his or her passion for the legal profession, commitment to serving the family of humankind, and being the best all-around student.

Darnesha has also been recognized by local organizations for her commitment to pro bono service.

Education: Juris Doctor, Stetson University College of Law, summa cum laude, 2016.  B.A. English Literature, Florida A&M University, summa cum laude, 2013. B.A. Psychology, Florida A&M University, summa cum laude, 2013.

www.journeytoesquire.com

info@journeytoesquire.com

@JourneytoEsquire

In this episode, we pass the mic to Ieisha Humphrey.

Ieisha Humphrey was born in Chicago, IL, but spent her formative years in Holland, Michigan, where she graduated from Holland High School.  Ieisha earned a bachelor of arts degree in sociology from Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Michigan and then earned her Juris Doctor from Thomas M. Cooley Law School with a concentration in constitutional law and civil rights. After practicing immigration law, in 2012, she began her career in higher education. Since then, Ieisha has worked in several administrative roles and is now the assistant dean for student affairs at the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law; Ieisha is responsible for supporting and enhancing student life through programming focused on wellness, leadership, and professionalism. Ieisha was appointed to the State Bar of Michigan Task Force on Well-Being in the Law and will work on eliminating the stigma associated with help-seeking behaviors, educating the legal community on well-being issues, and taking steps to instill greater well-being in the law. She is committed to diversifying the legal field, so she also works as a bar exam tutor and grader. Ieisha lives in Southfield, Michigan, with her husband, Perry and two sons, Cameron and Caleb.

Fun fact: If I could wave a magic wand and solve one problem instantly, it would be to put pockets on every skirt and dress made. Why aren't pockets a default?!  

Contact

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ieishahumphrey/

Email: ieishahumphrey@gmail.com

Journey To Esquire

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info@journeytoesquire.com

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In this episode, we pass the mic to Cornelius Demps to discuss joining the board.

Cornelius Demps is an attorney who represents clients in the Tampa Bay, Florida area. Cornelius Demps is recognized by peers and was selected to Rising Stars for 2019 - 2022. This selection is based off of an evaluation of 12 indicators including peer recognition and professional achievement in legal practice.

Cornelius Demps chose to pursue a career in law after completing undergraduate studies.He attended Stetson University College of Law and graduated in 2010. Cornelius Demps passed the bar exam and was admitted to legal practice in 2011.

He represents clients with Appellate issues in Florida. He also represents clients with Criminal Defense: DUI / DWI, Business Litigation, and Personal Injury - General: Plaintiff issues.

He is the current President of the George Edgecomb Bar Association, the largest African-American voluntary bar in the area which is celebrating its 40th year of service to the bar and the community.

www.journeytoesquire.com

info@journeytoesquire.com

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In this episode, we pass the mic to Class of 2020 Scholar Marcia Frith a graduate of WMU Cooley Law School who will give her Scholar Presentation and share the program's impact on her "journey to esquire."

www.journeytoesquire.com

info@journeytoesquire.com

@JourneytoEsquire

In this episode, we pass the mic to Abigail Dean to discuss joining the board.

Abigail Dean is an Assistant State Attorney at the 13th Judicial Circuit. She obtained by Juris Doctorate at Stetson University College of Law. Her undergraduate institution was the University of South Florida, where she obtained a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration. Her favorite hobbies are reading books, volunteering, and enjoying the company with friends and family. 

Fun fact: Her favorite thing to watch are 90s comedy shows.

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info@journeytoesquire.com

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In this episode we pass the mic to Krystle Cacci to discuss developing an appellate practice.

Krystle is an Appellate Attorney, Statewide Guardian ad Litem Office. She is a graduate of Thomas M. Cooley Law School. Experienced policy analyst with a demonstrated history of working in the public and private sectors. Skilled in Public Sector Organizations, Analytical Skills, Government, Research and Writing, and Public Speaking. Strong business development professional graduated from Florida State University and the University of Miami.

Fun fact: Krystle's mother is also a lawyer and was a judge on the Florida 1st District Court of Appeals from 2010-2016.

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info@journeytoesquire.com

@JourneytoEsq

In this episode, we pass the mic to Kim Lopater to discuss overcoming challenges.

Kimberly is an associate in the Casualty Department where she handles matters involving Personal Injury Protection (PIP) within the Fraud/Special Investigation Practice Group.   In May 2015, Kimberly received her Bachelor of Science degree from Florida State University, with a double major in Political Science and International Affairs. Kimberly earned her juris doctor from Stetson University College of Law, where she gained experience handling mortgage foreclosure and bankruptcy disputes as a judicial intern at the Sixth Judicial Circuit in St. Petersburg and the United States Bankruptcy Court in Tampa, and veterans’ appeals to the Department of Veterans Affairs for disability benefits at Stetson Law’s Veterans Law Institute.

Currently, Kimberly is an active member of the Hillsborough Association of Women Lawyers (HAWL) and serves as a member of HAWL’s inaugural Leadership Academy. She also participates as a pro bono attorney for the Wills for Heroes program with the Hillsborough County Bar Association and for the Defending Best Interests Project  with the Appellate Practice Section of the Florida Bar and the Guardian Ad Litem program.

Fun fact- Kim became a monthly donor to Tampa Humane Society, Wounded Warriors, and The National Park Foundation after she graduated law school because I wanted to make sure I always had a way to support charitable causes even if I could not commit my own time to help.

www.journeytoesquire.com

info@journeytoesquire.com

@JourneytoEsq

Trinidad-born, Brooklyn-raised, California-dreamin'! Dr. Annette V. Clarke is a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in serious mental illness, diversity and community mental health, immigration and acculturation, mindfulness and meditation, and body positivity. Dr. Clarke earned her Ph.D. and M.S. degrees in Clinical Psychology at Palo Alto University. She holds an M.A. in Psychology with a concentration in Mental Health and Substance Use Counseling from The New School for Social Research and a B.A. in Psychology from New York University. Dr. Clarke works across the developmental lifespan providing various psychological services focusing on healing, wellness, and recovery. She’s passionate about mentorship and provides supervision and training to doctoral trainees. A published author, researcher, and lecturer, her work includes Black and Black immigrant mental health, identity development, immigration and acculturation, and cultural competency pedagogy. Promoting mental health and de-stigmatizing mental illness is her life’s mission, and she shares this message with professional and lay audiences alike. Dr. Clarke loves science fiction/fantasy, horses, plants, crochet, bubble-blowing, and spending time with friends and family.

Connect with Dr. Clarke on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Clubhouse.

Tisheana Burton is a graduate of WMU Cooley Law School and Class of 2022 Journey to Esquire® Intern.   

The Journey to Esquire: Scholarship & Leadership Program provides academic and professional development for students interested in becoming lawyers. The journey to esquire is a long one, but we are here to help! ​ We are essential for diverse law students who need financial and emotional support because we provide cash scholarships, mentors, and training that help them pass the bar exam, obtain employment with competitive and powerful employers, and obtain leadership positions in professional associations. 

www.journeytoesquire.com info@journeytoesquire.com @JourneytoEsq

Neena Sterling is a graduate of WMU Cooley Law School and Class of 2022 Journey to Esquire® Scholar.   

The Journey to Esquire: Scholarship & Leadership Program provides academic and professional development for students interested in becoming lawyers. The journey to esquire is a long one, but we are here to help! ​ We are essential for diverse law students who need financial and emotional support because we provide cash scholarships, mentors, and training that help them pass the bar exam, obtain employment with competitive and powerful employers, and obtain leadership positions in professional associations. www.journeytoesquire.com info@journeytoesquire.com @JourneytoEsquire

Jessica Merker is a graduate of Stetson University College of Law and Class of 2022 Journey to Esquire® Scholar.   

The Journey to Esquire: Scholarship & Leadership Program provides academic and professional development for students interested in becoming lawyers. The journey to esquire is a long one, but we are here to help! ​ We are essential for diverse law students who need financial and emotional support because we provide cash scholarships, mentors, and training that help them pass the bar exam, obtain employment with competitive and powerful employers, and obtain leadership positions in professional associations. www.journeytoesquire.com info@journeytoesquire.com @JourneytoEsquire

David Mitchell is a graduate of Stetson University College of Law and Class of 2022 Journey to Esquire® Scholar.   

The Journey to Esquire: Scholarship & Leadership Program provides academic and professional development for students interested in becoming lawyers. The journey to esquire is a long one, but we are here to help! ​ We are essential for diverse law students who need financial and emotional support because we provide cash scholarships, mentors, and training that help them pass the bar exam, obtain employment with competitive and powerful employers, and obtain leadership positions in professional associations. www.journeytoesquire.com info@journeytoesquire.com @JourneytoEsquire

Kourey Hendryx-Bell is a graduate of WMU Cooley Law School and Class of 2022 Journey to Esquire® Scholar.   The Journey to Esquire: Scholarship & Leadership Program provides academic and professional development for students interested in becoming lawyers. The journey to esquire is a long one, but we are here to help! ​ We are essential for diverse law students who need financial and emotional support because we provide cash scholarships, mentors, and training that help them pass the bar exam, obtain employment with competitive and powerful employers, and obtain leadership positions in professional associations. www.journeytoesquire.com info@journeytoesquire.com @JourneytoEsquire

Leah Le'Vell is a Stetson University College of Law graduate and Class of 2022 Journey to Esquire® Scholar.   

The Journey to Esquire: Scholarship & Leadership Program provides academic and professional development for students interested in becoming lawyers. The journey to esquire is a long one, but we are here to help! ​ We are essential for diverse law students who need financial and emotional support because we provide cash scholarships, mentors, and training that help them pass the bar exam, obtain employment with competitive and powerful employers, and obtain leadership positions in professional associations. www.journeytoesquire.com info@journeytoesquire.com @JourneytoEsquire

In this episode, we pass the mic to Abraham Shakfeh, Esq.!

Abraham Shakfeh is an attorney at Butler Weihmuller Katz Craig’s Tampa office, practicing in Construction, Casualty Defense Litigation and Third-Party Coverage.

Abraham obtained his Bachelor of Arts from the University of South Florida cum laude in 2008 and his Juris Doctor from Florida State University in 2011. He is admitted to practice law in the State of Florida and the Federal District Court of the Middle District of Florida.

Prior to joining Butler, Abraham practiced a wide variety of matters from inception to trial.  These cases included construction defect claims and defending against actions involving wrongful death.  Abraham has also volunteered to help children with special needs obtain access to education.

In his spare time, he can be found gardening, tending to his honeybees and spending time with his wife. One fun fact about Abraham is that he is a “huge Tolkien nerd.”

In this episode, we pass the mic to Precious L. Williams, J.D.!

Williams is a 2001 graduate of the illustrious Spelman College, a historically-black undergraduate institution for women located in Atlanta, Georgia. In 2003, Williams went on to pursue her Juris Doctorate from Rutgers School of Law-Newark.

Williams, also known as the “Killer Pitch Master,” is a dynamic speaker, effective trainer, and three-times #1 bestselling author of books on pitching. Notably, Williams is a 13-time national elevator pitch champion, and has been featured on “Shark Tank,” CNN, WSJ, Forbes Magazine, Black Enterprise Magazine, Essence Magazine, and the movie LEAP: The World’s First Documentary about Coaching. Williams’ current clients include Microsoft, LinkedIn, Google, eBay, and more.

In this episode, we pass the mic to Adeel Bashir, Esq.! Adeel Bashir is a Federal Public Defender of the Middle District of Florida and President of the American Muslim Bar Association.

Bashir graduated from George Mason University School of Law in 2009, where he was a participant of the Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition and held leadership roles in George Mason’s Moot Court Board and Federal Circuit Bar Journal.

As a Federal Public Defender, Bashir drafts and files petitions for writ of certiorari to, and appellate briefs in the Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit on behalf of indigent criminal defendants, with a special emphasis on issues involving the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Amendments, statutory interpretation, United States Sentencing Guidelines and the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure. Bashir must also present oral argument before the Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, arguing over dozens of cases. Notably, Bashir has had victories in Supreme Court cases Yates v. United States, No. 13-7451, and Rehaif v. United States, No. 17-9560.

In this episode, we pass the mic to Jonathan Kernizan, Esq! Jonathan Kernizan is a personal injury attorney at Steinger, Greene & Feiner’s Tampa and Saint Petersburg locations. Before pursuing a career in law, Jonathan served in the United States Navy where he deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom abroad the USS Harry S. Truman.

Jonathan attended St. Thomas University College of Law where he graduated cum laude and earned distinctions in Advanced Legal Writing and Trial Advocacy. Jonathan also held leadership roles in the St. Thomas Law Review, St. Thomas Trial Team, and The Florida Bar YLD Law Student Division. Jonathan also obtained significant litigation experience through a clerkship for Judge Spencer D. Levine at the Florida Fourth District Court of Appeal, and by arguing appeals before the Florida Third District Court of Appeal.

Some fun facts about Jonathan are that he is fluent in both English in Spanish, and he is an up-and-coming space geek and enjoys learning about space exploration. Space travel is high on my bucket list.

In this first episode of Season 3 of Journey to Esquire The podcast we talk to JTE alum, Ray C Petty, Jr. about his viral video depicting him and his mom finding out that he passed the bar exam, resilience through grief and tough times, and mental health while in law school and beyond. Ray helped launch the Journey to Esquire Podcast which debuted in 2019, so go check it out on Apple Podcasts, Anchor, and Google Play, and more. 

Ray graduated from WMU Cooley Law School with his JD and Albany State University in Georgia with his B.A. He currently serves in the military as a reservist.   

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In this short video, you will meet some of the students in the Journey to Esquire® Class of 2021- interns Baron Olden, Jr. - who handles meetings, and Dioni' Stewart- who handles Journey to Esquire® The Blog and two scholars BreeAna Coleman and Breyon Love. Find out more about or program and students at www.journeytoesquire.com 

Check out the Journey to Esquire® Podcast on Anchor, Spotify, Apple, Google, and your favorite podcast provider.

In this episode, we pass the mic to Brielle F. Bell, Class of 2019 Scholar and current board member.

Ms. Bell is an Associate at Bush Ross, P.A. practicing Bankruptcy and Commercial Litigation. Brielle represents debtors, creditors, and trustees in Chapter 11 and 13 reorganizations and Chapter 7 liquidations. She also represents parties in all aspects of litigation in federal and state courts. Prior to joining the Board, Brielle was one of the inaugural scholars in the Diversity Access Pipeline program. Brielle graduated cum laude from Stetson University College of Law and competed on the Moot Court Board and Stetson Trial Team. While at Stetson, Brielle interned with the Honorable Charlene E. Honeywell in the Middle District of Florida and in 2018, Ms. JD Fellow.  She has since clerked with the Honorable Roberta A. Colton in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Middle District of Florida.

Share, Like, Subscribe and for more visit www.journeytoesquire.com

Social - @JourneytoEsq

#DiversityAccessPipeline, #JourneytoEsquire, #DiversityandInclusion, #Scholarship, #Diversity, #Excellence, #FloridaBar, #FloridaAttorney, #YoungLawyer, #Florida, #LawSchool, #FloridaLawyer, #FloridaBarYoungLawyersDivision, #barexam, #barexamprep, #BarBri, #kaplan, #themis, #agape, #barprep, #deepfocus, #studymusic, #ambient, #concentration, #adhd

In this episode, we pass the mic to Jamila S. Little. Ms. Little is an attorney licensed to practice law in Florida, and in the Caribbean. Her practice areas include immigration, criminal defense, personal injury, and business law. Jamila continues to represent her clients in State court and Federal Immigration court as an immigration attorney in Tampa Bay.

She hails from the beautiful twin isle of Trinidad and Tobago. Jamila graduated with honors from Spelman College in Atlanta, GA, where she majored in Economics and minored in Business Administration. She obtained her Masters in Business Administration (MBA), with a concentration in Finance, from Clark Atlanta University School of Business. She worked in the Banking and Finance Industry for several years prior to becoming an attorney. She received her Juris Doctorate from Florida International University College of Law in Miami, FL.

Jamila served as a Certified Legal Intern with Miami-Dade Public Defender’s Office, in the felony division, and with Florida International University Immigration and Human Rights Clinic. She was also a member of the Florida International University Board of Advocates and a law school Ambassador. As a Florida Bar Fellow, Jamila worked at Catholic Charities Legal Services in Miami, FL, where she assisted with several immigration cases.

#DiversityAccessPipeline, #JourneytoEsquire, #DiversityandInclusion, #Scholarship, #Diversity, #Excellence, #FloridaBar, #FloridaAttorney, #YoungLawyer, #Florida, #LawSchool, #FloridaLawyer, #FloridaBarYoungLawyersDivision, #barexam, #barexamprep, #BarBri, #kaplan, #themis, #agape, #barprep, #deepfocus, #studymusic, #ambient, #concentration, #adhd

In this episode, we pass the mic to Michena Georges. 

Ms. Georges is the newest Board Member of the JTE team. She received her B.A. in Political Science from the University of South Florida and her J.D. from Florida A&M University College of Law. Ms. Georges is also a veteran who served for several years in the United States Navy as a Hospital Corpsman and an Emergency Medical Technician. She currently works full time as an Assistant Coach at a federal agency. There, she performs the duties of the team coach in her absence and shares the daily responsibilities that ensure the team’s quality and timeliness of service meet performance indicator goals. She also guides her team on best practices to complete their duties as well as analyzes and interprets laws, rules, and regulations as they affect the establishment of new policies, procedures, and/or methods of operation. Prior to being an assistant coach, she was a Rating Service Representative. She made decisions on claims received and remanded claims from the Board of Appeals. She was also a volunteer Guardian ad Litem with the Sixth Judicial Circuit and volunteered for the VITA Tax Assistance Program in law school. Through her military, education, and volunteer experience, Ms. Georges is uniquely qualified to assist students who are nontraditional, either because they are veterans, entering law school at a later stage in life, or interested in a nontraditional attorney career. 

To listen to the presentation by Luis Aleman mentioned in this episode go here: https://youtu.be/6b-CW5qkh94?t=670

An Associate at Butler, Suzanne DeCopain practices in our Coverage Defense department. Suzanne has been a member of the Florida Bar since 2009 and is based in our Tampa office. She is admitted to the United States District Court for the Middle, Southern and Northern Districts of Florida.  Before joining Butler, Suzanne served as an Assistant State Attorney for the 20th Judicial Circuit for three years. During her time there, she gained significant jury and bench trial experience. Suzanne also has experience in landlord/tenant matters for public housing authorities.  While prosecuting, Suzanne taught as an Adjunct Professor at her undergraduate school, Florida Gulf Coast University. Since moving to Tampa, Suzanne became active with various bar associations including the George Edgecomb Bar Association and has held various positions. She is currently on the Board of Directors for the Diversity Access Pipeline and also serves as the Learn Your Legal Rights Community Workshop chair. She was selected as the 2019 recipient of the GEBA Young Lawyers Award for her upstanding work in the legal community as a leader and a mentor. And in 2019, Suzanne was appointed to the Board of Directors for the InterOcean University, a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide online college education tuition-free.

Marisol Ruiz joined McIntyre Thanasides as an associate in the complex litigation division in 2020. Before joining McIntyre Thanasides, Marisol worked as an associate attorney where her practice consisted of the representation of several community associations, real estate, family law, business litigation, and bankruptcy.

Marisol is a Tampa native and a proud “double Gator”, having previously graduated from the University of Florida (UF) in 2013 with two bachelor’s degrees — a B.A. in Criminology & Law and a B.A. in Anthropology, then later graduating from the University of Florida Levin College of law in 2017.

Marisol has a passion for advocacy and actively volunteers with numerous pro bono projects ranging from helping children in foster care to assisting with cases for Bay Area Legal Services. During law school, Marisol worked extensively with Judge Rawls in the Dependency and Delinquency Clinic (Gator TeamChild), where she represented children in various types of proceedings. Upon graduating from law school, Marisol became a certified Guardian Ad Litem continuing her dependency and delinquency work in addition to helping human trafficking victims.

Marisol is very active in the legal community serving on the Young Lawyers Division Professionalism and Ethics committee, a member of the Stann Givens Family Law Inn of Court, a member of the Hispanic Bar, and a member of The Hillsborough Association of Women Lawyers. She is fluent in English and Spanish.

Ben Fechter is an associate in Gunster's business litigation practice. He focuses his practice on various business torts and breach of contract disputes at the federal, state, and local levels, assisting individuals and businesses of all sizes.

His case work includes real estate developments, fraudulent transfers in bankruptcy court, public record disclosures, legal malpractice claims, breaches of contract, and probate litigation. Ben has experience arguing for clients in court, participating in mediations and depositions, drafting complaints, motions, subpoenas, and letters to clients and client customers, and overseeing all levels of discovery, including document review and production, researching and analyzing law.

Ben is passionate about advocating for others. He strives to prioritize relationships, and focuses on collaborating with clients and colleagues while attempting to find the best solutions to complex issues.

Ben is actively involved in the Palm Beach County Bar Association (PBCBA), serving as a board member of the Young Lawyer Section. In 2019, he was appointed to the Judicial Relations Committee and the Professionalism Committee for which he has published material on developing a reputation for professionalism. Ben also volunteers for the Jewish Federation and the Florence de George Boys & Girls Club.

While earning his law degree, Ben was a member of the Florida Law Review and Florida Trial Team. He interned with the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida, the Legal Aid Society in New York City, and the civil rights defense group, LatinoJustice, in New York City. Prior to launching on his legal career, Ben spent three years working in middle schools in Bronx, NY.

Elaine L. Thompson has been practicing law since 1989.  She began her legal career working as an Assistant Attorney General in the Criminal Appeals Division of the Florida Attorney General's Office in Tampa.  Over the next ten years, Ms. Thompson continued to develop her legal skills and knowledge while working in the Employment Discrimination Section and the Office of Civil Rights where she represented the State, State agencies, and State employees in appellate, trial, and federal habeas corpus proceedings.   After honing her craft with the Florida Attorney General's Office, attorney Thompson worked in private practice representing parties in workers compensation matters, criminal appeals, civil appeals, civil litigation, and family appeals. Ms. Thompson worked briefly at the Fulton County District Attorney's Office. Upon her return to Florida, she worked at a private law firm that handled cases involving medical malpractice, personal injury, and limited appeals.  From there she joined the Office of the Public Defender in Tampa where she served as a supervisor of the Appellate Division, represented clients in Baker Act proceedings, and handled post-conviction matters.   After practicing law for more than twenty-five years, Ms. Thompson decided to focus her practice on the most rewarding work she performs as a lawyer - appellate cases.  Having attended law school because of her interest in constitutional law, she continues to pursue work related to constitutional claims, civil liberties, disability rights, education rights, and individual property rights.  In addition to appeals, Ms. Thompson provides litigation support to trial lawyers and simplified estate planning.

www.floridaappeals.org 

@legalappeals (Facebook)

In this episode, we pass the mic to Kamilah O'Brien to discuss student loan debt and living you bet financial life.

Kamilah O’Brien is an operations and financial nonprofit professional with the proven ability to create and optimize operational systems as well as manage billion-dollar budgets.

Upon graduating with her Masters of Public Administration in General Finance from NYU, Kamilah had over $65,000 of student loan debt. After realizing her salary wasn’t enough to conquer her debt, Kamilah researched and tested several strategies to help her achieve financial freedom. In just three years' time, Kamilah paid off her student loan debt.

Today, Kamilah, also known as the Focused Spender to her YouTube following, is a corporate Senior Financial Manager, speaker, and consultant. She helps her followers stop living paycheck to paycheck by maximizing their savings, investments, and debt payoff. It’s her mission to help people determine and achieve their long term financial goals while reshaping their financial habits.

Get the free download mentioned in the interview here: https://focusedspenderpayday.lpages.co/5-payday-mistakes/

Connect with The Focused Spender at:

kamilah@focusedspender.com

www.focusedspender.com/budget-tools

www.youtube.com/focusedspender

IG: @focusedspender

In this episode, we pass the mic to board member Sumayya Saleh, Esq. She discusses why she joined the Journey to Esquire team and religious diversity.

Ms. Saleh is the product of circumstances similar to those endured by JTE’s target population.  Ms. Saleh’s formative years were shaped largely by the realities of being the daughter of Syrian immigrants and being a Muslim in post-9/11 America.  People who looked like her--Muslim women in hijab--were vilified, not uplifted.  er innate desire to advocate on behalf of victims of injustice led her to pursue a career in the law, despite the hurdles she knew she would encounter.   Ms. Saleh brings her own set of invaluable experiences to the table, as she experienced the precise barriers to entry that JTE aims to help its scholars overcome. She graduated from Western Michigan University Cooley Law School (“Cooley Law”)—an unranked law school, and one of the schools with which JTE works. 

As a Cooley Law graduate, Ms. Saleh experienced implicit (and sometimes explicit) biases from prospective employers and others in the profession. Ms. Saleh also had to contend with the reality that, as a hijab-clad Muslim woman, she was a very visible minority in the legal community.  Rather than minimize this part of her identity, she embraced it.  She quickly got involved in local bar associations and made room for herself at the table. She saw firsthand how adding a diverse voice to the mix goes a long way in terms of diversity efforts, but is only the first step toward equity and inclusivity.  Ms. Saleh successfully maneuvered around the obstacles she faced: During her third year of practice, Ms. Saleh was offered a federal clerkship, which she ultimately turned down so she could accept her current position as a staff attorney with the reputable Southern Poverty Law Center. At this stage in her career, she is exactly where JTE is hoping its scholars land within their first five years of practice, and did so while staying true to the parts of her that make her “different.”

Twitter: @SumayyaSaleh

Fun fact: She helped organize a union at my workplace.

Dr. Peter-Christian Aigner is a historian of twentieth-century America. In this episode, we discuss the Journey to Esquire: Oral History Project and its importance to recent events.   

Dr. Aigner's first book explores the life and career of Daniel Patrick Moynihan as a view onto the strains of American liberalism between the New Deal and the present century. The manuscript is contracted with Simon & Schuster and will be the first scholarly biography to date of the national political/intellectual figure and New York City icon. He’s begun research on a second book, interrogating the structural dimensions of American exceptionalism, re-conceptualizing local and national history from a modern global perspective.  Dr. Aigner has published essays in The Nation, The Atlantic and The New Republic, presented original research on a variety of topics before numerous professional academic associations, worked for several years as the Journal of the History of Ideas’ assistant editor and hosted a podcast on urban history for the New Books Network. Prior to being named The Gotham Center's acting director (2016-2019), he served as the organization's administrator, during which time he spearheaded the redesign of its website and the creation of several new features, including the semiweekly digital publication Gotham. 

Books mentioned: Vitale, The End of Policing;  Zinn, A People's History of the United States.

#DiversityAccessPipeline #JourneytoEsquire #DiversityandInclusion #Scholarship #Diversity #Excellence #FloridaBar #FloridaAttorney #YoungLawyer #Florida #LawSchool #FloridaLawyer #FloridaBarYoungLawyersDivision #barexam #barexamprep #BarBri #kaplan #themis #agape #barprep

Welcome to another great bonus episode from the Journey to Esquire: Oral History Project.

In this episode, we pass the mic to Arthenia L. Joyner. Former State Senator Arthenia Joyner is a pioneer and has been a political trailblazer throughout her impressive career. Born in 1943 in Lakeland, Florida (later moving to Tampa), she was taught by her father, Henry Joyner -- the owner of Tampa’s premier African-American night club, the Cotton Club -- about the importance of sharing personal success with those less fortunate. Her mother, Jean Joyner, taught her to follow her conscience and her convictions, and never be afraid to speak up on issues that mattered.

In 1960, while an 11th-grade student at Tampa’s Middleton High, she participated in her first civil rights demonstration, an event that would shape her entire life. As a college student at Florida A & M University, she was arrested twice in 1963 for civil disobedience and spent 14 days in jail. In 1964, she graduated with a B.S. in Political Science from Florida A & M University, and, in 1968, earned her J.D. from Florida A & M University, College of Law. After graduation, she worked as a legal assistant to State Representative Joe Lang Kershaw, the first African-American to serve in Tallahassee since Reconstruction. Later, when no law firm would hire her, she took out a $1,000 bank loan and opened her solo practice of law. In 1991, she was a founder of the law firm of Stewart Joyner Jordan-Holmes Holmes. She became the first black woman to practice law in Hillsborough County and the first black to practice law in Polk County.

She served three terms as a member of the Florida House of Representatives from the 59th District (2000-2006). Subsequently elected to the Florida Senate, Senator Joyner served the people of the 18th District from 2006-2012. After political districts were redrawn, she won the race for the 19th District, serving from 2012-2016. Over her legislative career, Senator Joyner has held many significant posts, including being elected the first black woman Senate Minority Leader (2014-2016).

In 2012, Senator Joyner received the National Black Caucus of State Legislators’ (NBCSL) Lifetime Achievement Award and the President’s Award from Florida A & M University. She was inducted into the Hillsborough County Women’s Hall of Fame in 2014, and in 2015 the Democratic Caucus in the Florida Senate named their annual political dinner for women, The Annual Arthenia L. Joyner Women in Politics Dinner.

Welcome to another bonus episode featuring Journey to Esquire: An Oral History.

In this episode, we pass the mic to Donald R. Odom.  Bornin 1950, in Saint Petersburg, Florida, Donald R. Odom always knew he would be a lawyer.  He spent his formative years in Jacksonville Beach, Florida, during which he became an admirer of Judge Thurgood Marshall.  He recalls reading about Judge Marshall’s accomplishments during the 1950s and 60s, including his nomination to the United States Supreme Court in 1967.   Interestingly, Mr. Odom did not meet a lawyer until he attended Gibbs High School in St. Petersburg, Florida, where he met African American pioneers I. W. Williams, Fred Minnis and James Sanderlin.

Following graduation from Gibbs High School, Mr. Odom enrolled at the University of South Florida in 1968.  He majored in political science, was active in campus politics, and served as President of the Black Student Union.  Mr. Odom graduated in 1972 with a B.A. degree in Political Science.  Thereafter, he was admitted to the University of Florida Law School in 1974, when the school operated on the quarter system, which allowed him to complete his studies in two years and one quarter.  The Honorable Stephen Mickle was one of Mr. Odom’s Professors at Florida and Mr. Odom also clerked part-time at Judge Mickle’s law firm.  Mr. Odom graduated from law school in June 1976 and was admitted to practice law on November 18, 1977.

From 1985 to his retirement,  Mr. Odom has worked at the Hillsborough County Attorney’s Office in Tampa, Florida, first as an Assistant County Attorney, then as a Chief Assistant County Attorney, and since 2005 as the Deputy County Attorney.  His areas of practice have primarily been utilities law and local government law.  Prior to his tenure with the County Attorney’s Office, Mr. Odom worked in the firm of Williams and Milton in St. Petersburg and the firm of Tindall, Trybus & Odom in Tampa.  Mr. Odom served as the first African American Assistant City Attorney with the Saint Petersburg’s City Attorney’s Office, and the first African American Assistant District Counsel with the District V office of the Florida Department of Health & Rehabilitative Services.  Mr. Odom has participated in numerous proceedings that have had a significant public impact, including his successful defense of the City of St. Petersburg’s Human Rights Ordinance.

Welcome to the first full interview of the Journey to Esquire: Oral History Project.  In this episode, we pass the mic to Delano Stewart who had a stellar career as a criminal and civil trial lawyer. He served as the first president of the George Edgecomb Bar Association from 1982 to 1983. Stewart was elected as the first African American on the Hillsborough County Bar Association Board of Directors.  He continued his community and political activism by running for the Florida House of Representatives in 1966 and Tampa City Council in 1970. Undeterred by these unsuccessful races, he continued to spend his Saturdays registering African American voters. Stewart is a Founder of the Tampa Organization of Black Affairs (1980), and the first African American member of the Rough Riders civic organization, of which he is a life member. He is also a member of the National Bar Association’s Hall of Fame. Lawyer Delano Stewart was born on November 9, 1935, in Tampa, Florida to Beatrice Hill Stewart and Garland V. Stewart. He went on to earn his B.A degree in political science at his father’s alma mater, Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia. From there, he attended Howard University School of Law in Washington, D.C., during which time he attended the March on Washington in 1963. He also served in the U.S. Air Force. Upon graduating in 1964, Stewart returned to Tampa, Florida, where he became the first African American board member for the Hillsborough County Young Democrats. After graduating from Howard’s Law School, Stewart returned to Tampa to enter private practice with Francisco Rodriguez and S.J. Kenneth Rogers. Stewart also became the first African American Assistant Public Defender for the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit in Hillsborough County. Stewart expanded his law practice to add fellow Howard Law graduate George Edgecomb and Arthenia Joyner, the first African American female to practice law in Hillsborough County. Edgecomb became Tampa’s first African American assistant state attorney and county court judge. The local George Edgecomb Bar Association bears his name and awards the Delano Stewart Diversity Award annually. In 1970, Stewart became the first attorney to head an integrated law firm in Florida.

In honor of Black History Month, Journey to Esquire: The Podcast would like to share a glimpse into the beginnings of an oral history of African-American Pioneering lawyers in Tampa Bay. Featured speakers are Delano Stewart, Arthenia Joyner, and Donald Odom. 

Special thanks to Ricky Roberts and Ricky Roberts Photography www.rickyroberts.com, and Dr. Peter-Christian Aigner Director of the Gotham Center, www.gothamcenter.com for their assistance and support in this project. 

For the full video visit our YouTube Page and the website www.journeytoesquire.com/oralhistory.

Board Certified in Appellate Practice, Sarah Lahlou-Amine practices in all areas of state and federal appellate litigation. In addition to handling all types of appeals and original proceedings, Sarah is frequently retained for the strategic focus she brings to trial court litigation, helping clients and trial lawyers create records suited to both protect favorable rulings and document grounds for reversal in the event of an adverse outcome.

Sarah served as Chair of the Appellate Practice Section of the Florida Bar and has been consecutively recognized in the Florida Super Lawyers magazine since 2010. She has garnered an AV® Preeminent distinction, the highest available mark for professional excellence from Martindale-Hubbell’s Peer Review Ratings, and has been repeatedly recognized for her dedication to pro bono service. Sarah is also a member of the Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Tampa Bay (APABA).

Contact: slahlou@bankerlopez.com @SLahlou_Amine (Twitter) @sarahlahlouamine (LinkedIn)

Fun fact: In her spare time, Sarah enjoys writing and is an avid Florida farm enthusiast and agritourist.

Judge Daryl M. Manning is a County Court Judge in Hillsborough County and currently assigned to the county civil division.  He was a practicing attorney in Tampa with the Office of the Florida Attorney General for sixteen years prior to his appointment by Governor Scott in 2015.

Judge Manning obtained his LL.M. from the Army Judge Advocate Legal Center and School at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, VA, his J.D. from St. John’s University School of Law in Queens, N.Y. and his B.A. from the University of South Carolina, in Columbia, S.C.

Judge Manning was a Judge Advocate (JAG) Officer in the United States Army and served several tours in support of the Global War on Terrorism in Iraq, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait before retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel in 2015.  On the local level, Judge Manning was a member of the Florida Board of Bar Examiners and served as chair from 2013 – 2015. He served on a Florida Bar Grievance Committee in Hillsborough and is a certified Guardian ad Litem.

Contact: CivDivJ@fljud13.org

Fun Fact: 10+ years ago, he appeared on Comedy Central!

Vanessa Ferguson is a Florida native and was born near Orlando, Florida. She is currently an attorney and the managing director of Ferguson Legal, PLLC. Ferguson Legal, PLLC is a law firm that focuses on general Business law, Data Privacy, and Intellectual Property. Ms. Ferguson also serves as the secretary of the George Edgecomb Bar Association and is a Certified Information Privacy Technologist.

Ms. Ferguson obtained her Associate’s degree and her Bachelor’s degree in Criminology, with a minor in Legal Studies, from the University of South Florida St Petersburg. Ms. Ferguson attended the University of Dayton School of Law and graduated in two and a half years with a certification for her Intellectual Property concentration.

Links: VFerguson@Ferguson-legal.com and www.linkedin.com/in/vnessaferguson

Fun fact: I am one of 5 girls and I have 7 nieces and nephews.

In this bonus episode, the students in the Class of 2019 present on their takeaways from the pilot program and what they hope to achieve in their careers. The presenters in this first part are Luis Aleman, Tiffany Colon,  and Brittney Lainez with an abridged keynote presentation by Deanna Singh, JD MBA. This event was recorded live in March 2019 at the Portico Cafe, in Tampa, Florida.

Check out our YouTube page for the full video; https://youtu.be/WoDNQ2iZ6a8

Enjoy!

In this bonus episode, we share some reflections from the students in the Pilot Program which became the Journey to Esquire: Scholarship & Leadership Program.  Assita Toure, Luis Aleman, Brielle Tucker, Jemima Pierre Zetrenne, Brittney Lainez, and Tiffany Colon share their words of wisdom as they complete their third year of law school. This presentation was originally aired at the George Edgecomb Bar Association Scholarship Banquet in April 2019 as part of its partnership with Diversity Access Pipeline, Inc. to pilot the program.

Enjoy! 

Andres N. Oliveros is a two-time president of the Highlands County Bar Association and the immediate past president of the Tampa Hispanic Bar Association.  

His law practice is exclusively focused on personal injury law, with offices in Tampa and Sebring.  A graduate of Duke University and the George Washington University Law School, Andres joined the U.S. Marine Corps as a judge advocate immediately after law school, and served as trial counsel overseas in Japan and as an operational lawyer in Iraq soon after the 2003 invasion. 

 Upon being honorably discharged, Andres returned to his hometown of Sebring and later opened his law practice in 2008 after settling in Tampa, where he now lives with his wife and two children.  Andres' practice consists entirely of the prosecution of motor vehicle negligence and premises liability cases.

Links: www.thba.org, www.highlandsbar.com, www.oliveroslaw.com

Fun fact: I almost quit law school to go to culinary school.

In this trailer, we pass the mic to the two people behind this podcast: Joseline J. Hardrick, Esq. and Ray C. Petty, Jr. Joseline is the founder and President of Diversity Access Pipeline, Inc. which runs the Journey to Esquire: Scholarship & Leadership Program and this podcast. Then we pass the mic to Ray C. Petty, Jr., a second year law student at WMU- Cooley Law School and an intern with the program. On this podcast we some great attorneys and judges who will share their "journeys to esquire" and offer  useful information about law school and the practice of law.  Listen to find out more! Special thanks to our JD Level Sponsors- U.S> District Courts Middle District of Florida's Bench Bar Fund and Agape Christian Bar Preparation services, Inc. Also thanks to WMU-Cooley Law School for providing the podcasting equipment and recording space and Dr. Peter-Christian Aigner for his assistance.