Today we’d like to introduce you to Shalanda Ajibola.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I am an entrepreneur attorney and have been managing my own law practice since 2019. Over 20 years ago, I started out as a file clerk working at the the county family court in Kansas City, Missouri. I moved up to a Legal Secretary assisting attorneys and then decided to obtain a Paralegal Certificate after already obtaining an Associate Degree. In 2004, I applied and accepted a job as a Legal Assistant at the US Attorney’s Office in Kansas City, Missouri. After a couple of more years assisting attorneys I decided to go to law school because if they could do it, surely I could. I graduated from law school in 2010 as the first in my immediate and extended family that I am aware of to ever attend law school. I struggled after law school to find a good paying, permanent attorney position. Finally, in 2015 I accepted an administrative hearing officer position with the state of Missouri. However, this still was not enough for me. The next year in 2016, I decided it was time to leave Missouri and head to Dallas, Texas in search of better opportunities. I had to take the Texas bar and passed on the second try in 2017. I have had many work experiences and pursued so many different career opportunities until I decided working for myself was my best option. I had all this education and work experience and I was not going to continue to wait for someone to give me an opportunity, I decided to create my own. So, in 2019 after leaving a local Dallas law firm because it was not what it appeared to be, I started my own practice. My goal is to grow and help other young attorneys obtain the experience and opportunities I had been searching for all this time.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
No, it has not been smooth. The struggle has been having a six figure school loan debt and yet inconsistent income. I was overqualified for the jobs that were in demand, but did not have sufficient experience to obtain a six-figure job at a law firm. Additionally, was the struggle to obtain mentorship and training. There seemed to be a resistance from established lawyers to help younger lawyers transition into the practice. I felt the seasoned attorneys were intimidated by me as a newer attorney and they saw me as competition.
As you know, we’re big fans of SJ Smith Law PLLC. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
SJ Smith Law PLLC is my law practice where we provide legal consulting and legal services in the following practice areas: Estate Planning, Probate, Real Estate, Business, and Immigration. Our goal is to help you reach yours. People come to us with problems and sometimes solutions are not solely legally based, they are financial, familial, and strategic. We provide wise counsel that goes beyond the law. Solutions and timeless wisdom is our secret sauce. We are primarily a virtual law firm which provides convenience for our clients with the goal of global expansion. In-person meetings are available only if necessary such as for hearings or notarizing.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
I have learned that persistence breaks resistance. Many of the things I have learned and discovered I have had to uncover on my own. So, I have developed the skill of teaching myself what I need to know and not shying away from something just because someone has not shown me how to do it. Giving up is not an option.
Pricing:
- $300 per hour
- Flat fees for estate planning documents
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sjsmithlawpllc.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kingdomlawjustice/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KingdomLawJustice
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/kingdom-law-justice
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@kingdomsocialjusticesoluti8243
