LaShawnda Jackson made history this year as the first Black president of the Orange County Bar Association. She sat down with Chief Judge Don Myers to talk about Central Florida's interconnected legal community, challenges she's faced as a Black female lawyer, and her proposals to make the legal profession more diverse and inclusive. Listen and learn about the life of a lawyer from her perspective, including law school, getting involved in the local Bar associations, going to trial, and the future of the legal industry.

Show Notes

• 0:20 - Introduction of LaShawnda Jackson
• 1:05 - Beginning of interest in law
• 2:19 - University of Florida, student athlete, and track and field
• 3:21 - Highlights of accomplishments in the practice of law
• 5:58 - Handling experts involved in complex cases
• 7:01 - Trial team, arguing cases with classmates
• 8:21 - Biggest challenges as a lawyer
• 10:23 - Challenges as a Black female lawyer
• 11:17 - Adversaries in the courtroom and stereotypes
• 13:51 - Local Bar diversity, inclusion, and historical context
• 15:50 - Lack of minority representation in the judiciary
• 17:31 - Increasing the number of minority students in law school
• 18:36 - Adults modeling different career options in communities
• 19:38 - Diversifying the Judicial Nominating Commission
• 20:42 - Becoming a judge through appointment or election
• 22:22 - Steps taken to become president of the OCBA
• 24:40 - What the OCBA means to the community
• 28:02 - Jackson's vision for the OCBA's coming year
• 29:15 - Coronavirus and the impact on the local legal community
• 33:41 - Adoption after 18, free time activities, and managing stress