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IAM2402 – Founder and Civil Rights Attorney Focuses on Improving Access to Justice for People of Color
Special Throwback Episode with Atty. Kisha A. Brown
Kisha A. Brown is a passionate civil rights attorney and the founder/CEO of Justis Connection, an online platform designed to connect lawyers of color with communities needing legal resources.She has extensive experience across the federal, state, local, nonprofit, and private sectors and focuses on civil rights, police reform, and empowerment.
Kisha realizes that people often ask for legal referrals, but the process is inefficient, requiring multiple steps and often not connecting people of color with lawyers of color.
Kisha emphasizes that many people, especially from marginalized communities, lack access to legal professionals and knowledge about their rights.
Justis Connection helps people find the right lawyer for their specific legal needs, considering factors like language needs, budget, and proximity to public transportation.
Kisha connects her work to the legacies of influential Black leaders like Thurgood Marshall, believing that lawyers of color are responsible for serving their communities.
In addition, references Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s “The Drum Major Instinct” speech, emphasizing that leadership is about serving others.
Website: Justis Connection
LinkedIn: Kisha A. Brown, Esq.
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Kisha A. Brown 00:00
Justis Connection, it's an online platform which is focused on promoting top legal talent of color to local communities of color.
We're committed to empowering the community through active engagement and educational series to teach people about their rights and responsibilities in the law.
We believe that a better informed neighbor is better prepared to proactively engage the legal system.
Intro 00:22
Are you ready to hear business stories and learn effective ways to build relationships, generate sales, and level up your business from awesome CEOs, entrepreneurs, and founders without listening to a long, long, long interview?
If so, you've come to the right place. Gresh values your time and is ready to share with you the valuable info you're in search of. This is the I AM CEO Podcast.
Gresham Harkless 00:47
Hello, hello, hello. This is Gresh from the I AM CEO Podcast, and I have a very special guest on the show today, I have Kisha A. Brown of Justis Connection. Kisha, it's awesome to have you on the show.
Kisha A. Brown 00:58
Thank you so much for having me. I'm excited to be with you.
Gresham Harkless 01:00
No problem. Super excited to have you on the show. And what I wanted to do was just read a little bit more about Kisha so you can hear about all the awesome things that she's doing.
And Kisha A. Brown Esquire is a passionate civil rights attorney who has spoken at countless forums on police reform, civilian rights, and anti-discrimination, ex-offenders, and community empowerment.
Currently, she's the founder and CEO of Justis Connection, an online platform promoting lawyers of color and engaging communities with greater legal resources.
She has worked for federal, state, and local governments, as well as the nonprofit and private sector.
Now she focuses on bridging the gap between the legal community and people of color, where she believes lives one of the most fundamental elements of democracy, access to justice.
Kisha, are you ready to speak to the I AM CEO community?
Kisha A. Brown 01:45
Let's do this.
Gresham Harkless 01:46
Let's do it. So the first question I had was to hear a little bit more about what I call your CEO story and what led you to start your business.
Kisha A. Brown 01:52
Yeah, thanks again for having me. I started the CEO journey really from coming out of a not so good fit last job.
And when I was kind of pivoting away from that job, I really felt like the time was to be on my own, to stand in my own truth and to do the work that I was really passionate about.
And so for me, my experience has been consistently having people ask for legal referrals. hey, do you know somebody who does this?
Or do you know somebody who does that? Or can you refer me to somebody who may be able to help me with such and such?
And more times than not, in the past, the process included asking a couple of friends, those friends asking a couple of friends, who asked a couple of people.
And then by the time it gets back, I'm thinking to myself, wow, this took a lot of effort for what should be a seemingly easy process, right?
So I realized that people of color, lawyers of color, especially black lawyers, were not as connected as we could have been, especially as it related around building the business and connecting with potential clients.
And so, for me, I saw it as a win-win. Greater access to Justis for communities of color, who we know tend to be most vulnerable in the legal system, having to be defensive and reactive most times.
And historically in this country, have been subjugated to unjust laws and experiences in the legal system.
And then it would also be a win for lawyers of color by being able to create a pipeline of new business, new clients that would allow them to grow their practice as well.
And for many lawyers of color, being first generation as a lawyer, it is quite difficult to build a book of business.
Because when you're in law school, ironically, they don't teach you how to market, how to advertise, how to get new clients, right?
We're really focused on the analytical, the legal mind, the learning of the law. And so those other aspects, which are really of the business, aren't really integrated into the practice of being a lawyer.
So this would be a great service as well to lawyers of color. So bringing it together, I really felt like this was a win-win and focused, laser focused on the empowerment of people of color.
Gresham Harkless 04:06
Absolutely. Absolutely. And I love the fact that you've been able to do that. And like in true entrepreneurial form, you saw a kind of a gap that was there and you decided to create something to fulfill that gap.
A lot of times I say the name of the game is sometimes just visibility. So people know that they might need attorneys for specific situations, but they don't know where to find them.
So to be able to kind of have that one stop shop where you're able to be that kind of matchmaker or that your site's able to be that matchmaker, so to speak, kind of helps out a tremendous amount.
Kisha A. Brown 04:33
Right. Yes. So, Justis Connection, it's an online platform which is focused on promoting top legal talent of color to local communities of color.
We're committed to empowering the community through active engagement and educational series to teach people about their rights and responsibilities in the law.
We believe that a better informed neighbor is better prepared to proactively engage the legal system.
Gresham Harkless 04:55
Absolutely, absolutely. And a lot of times, people feel kind of hopeless and helpless in a lot of situations, definitely people of color, because they aren't as informed about what exactly they can do.
And probably even to extend that on a deeper level, they may not know anybody they can ask about certain situations.
So again, you being able to kind of create that sounds like it helps out a lot with that.
Kisha A. Brown 05:14
Yeah, if you don't have a lawyer in your family or a lawyer who's your neighbor or maybe they sit next to you at church or in any organization, where do you start, right?
Where do you look? How do you know who to pick? Even when you go on a lot of these other websites, there are thousands and thousands of folks who come up based on where you live and your subject matter.
And what I found most often is that people don't even know really what type of lawyer they need, right?
It's just, hey, I need a lawyer. And sometimes people might say, oh, I need a real estate attorney when it has to deal with a landlord-tenant issue, right?
And not understanding that that might really require a different level of expertise or experience in a separate area of the law.
And so we want to make sure that people get solid legal referrals that are most relevant to their issues and meet their specific, their personal needs.
Gresham Harkless 06:12
Absolutely, absolutely. And I know you touched on it a little bit because you, I guess, feel a little bit deeper on how exactly Justis Connection works and what you feel kind of sets that website and the platform apart.
Kisha A. Brown 06:23
Sure. So we're an online platform, so it's a website. You can fill out a quick form or call directly for assistance.
And what makes it unique is two parts. So there are tons of other legal referral service type websites on the market right now.
One, we focus on lawyers of color. So this is the most diverse network of lawyers for legal referral.
And then two, the personalization of the matching, of the referral process. So as I mentioned before, oftentimes you put in a family law and you put in your jurisdiction and you get 822 hits back.
And the consumer is still saying to themselves, okay, now who do I pay? And your chances are you go through the first two pages and the people who are on the first couple of pages or at the top are usually those who have pay more for additional ads and bump other people down.
And it can be quite an overwhelming process, especially when you're usually already involved in one of your most traumatic experiences in life.
And so in an effort to make the process more streamlined, we really focus on the personalization of the referral process.
So taking into consideration things that are important when you're making a decision like this.
Do you have any language needs? what your budget might be. Budget doesn't necessarily exclude any type of attorney, but if you're looking at more of the $150 to $200 range.
Then there's no need for you to maybe get somebody who's $600 plus an hour, right? Also looking in your transportation needs.
So some people are like, hey, I don't have a car. I want to be within 15 miles of where I live for an Uber or being able to catch a Metro or be on a bus line.
Taking things that normal, regular people take into consideration when making an important decision, putting that in the process so that your legal referral is most relevant to you.
Gresham Harkless 08:15
Absolutely, absolutely. And I'm glad you kind of touched on that piece too, is often, when you're going through an experience like that, like you mentioned, it's a traumatic experience.
So you don't necessarily, I won't say you don't want to, but it's really another added burden to have to go through each person's website because you click through a search engine.
And found that person's website, then you have to find all those things out rather than have like a resource, a platform that you've been able to build and develop that actually has all that information there.
Kisha A. Brown 08:40
Yeah, even we're still in the early stages, but what we do is we create profiles of our attorneys.
So that it's in a digestible form, it's easy to read, it gets to the heart of the experience of the attorneys with their contact information, and it gives folks an opportunity to do a little bit of their own research before contacting folks.
And we also give folks a little bit of guidance. We give them a couple of questions, standard questions and being able to get a better idea of how do I pick this person? How do I know who's a good fit?
And sometimes even having a little bit of guidance helps you along that process. And we really just want to make this process easier for the consumer and most relevant for both the lawyer and the consumer as well.
Gresham Harkless 09:27
Absolutely, absolutely. And that makes sense. And I'm sure that helps out from the attorney standpoint when they have a little bit more of an informed client that comes there.
A potential client, I should say, that understands a little bit more about what they're looking for and how they make that great fit.
Kisha A. Brown 09:39
Exactly. For both folks, time is of the essence, right? Nobody wants to spend their time wasted, per se.
And so we want to make sure for the lawyers, hey, this person who's coming to you kind of matches up with what it is that your practice does.
And for the person who's looking for a lawyer, likewise, right? Being able to say, hey, we put some thought into who we sent you in an effort to best meet your needs.
Gresham Harkless 10:03
Absolutely, absolutely. And now I wanted to switch gears a little bit and ask you for what I call a CEO hack.
And this might be an Apple book or a habit that you have, but it's something that makes you more effective and efficient.
Kisha A. Brown 10:14
Yeah. So I was thinking about what my favorite life business hack is. I think, it's funny, like right now I'm reading the book Defining Moments in Black History, Reading Between the Lies.
And it's Dick Gregory's last work before he passed away. And it's a great piece really to get at so many of the behind-the-scenes journeys of Black people in this country who have been impactful.
And he actually has a slash through Black in the title, right, really highlighting how black history is American history.
And the things that black people have contributed are fundamental to the very fabric of this country.
And so I really look, it's inspiring to me to be able to hear about those people who have come before me and laid the foundation for the work that Justis Connection is doing, right?
For the lawyers who are building on the back of Thurgood Marshall. And for those people who still are looking for Justis in modern day America through our legal system.
And it is the responsibility and it is the duty of lawyers of color to be able to give back to the communities in which they came from.
Gresham Harkless 11:30
Absolutely, absolutely. I think that's a great, you know, C.E.O. Haggin largely want to continue to carry the torch that was passed before us.
And I think that, you know, I looked out, when I was younger, I remember my mom used to always give me books about, black history to even understand because it opens up your doors.
It makes you feel a sense of pride and a sense of confidence as well, too, when you do hear that there are greats that have paved the path for you.
And they've done some phenomenal things that sometimes you don't always hear unless, you know, it's presented to you
Kisha A. Brown 11:58
That's right. And everyone needs to feel valuable. Everybody needs to know that not only does your life have purpose, you are a part of a legacy of purpose.
And so, as you mentioned, in this country, in America, we don't often hear those types of affirmations, especially when you come from communities of color, especially as a black person in this country.
And so you've got to go out and seek that information, seek that affirmation, seek that inspiration in order to really keep you focused and on your path moving forward.
Gresham Harkless 12:31
Absolutely. Absolutely. So I appreciate you for sharing that. And now I want to ask you for what I call a CEO nugget.
And this is a word of wisdom or piece of advice, or if you can hop into a time machine, what would you tell your younger business self?
Kisha A. Brown 12:44
I think a little golden nugget is be patient, but vigilant, right? I think you've got to have that balance in everything.
So there's the yin and the yang. And for me, being patient is important so that I'm not always looking for what is to be or what should be or what could be or what tomorrow brings.
But so being very present, and for me that's being patient, like, hey, take it piece by piece, but being vigilant, right?
Keep that fire under your butt, though, so that you still have that motivation and that grind. So be patient but vigilant is like a balance of the two.
Gresham Harkless 13:22
Absolutely. Absolutely. One of my favorite quotes is everything comes to he or she who hustles while he waits.
So you want to have that same vigilance, but at the same time you want to understand that it's a process. Sometimes it takes a little bit more time than we always want, but you want to make sure that you're always kind of ready for that opportunity.
Kisha A. Brown 13:36
Indeed. I love that.
Gresham Harkless 13:38
Awesome. Awesome. Awesome. And now I wanted to ask you my absolute favorite question, which is the definition of what it means to be a CEO.
And we're hoping to have different quote-unquote CEOs on the show. So Kisha, I wanted to ask you, what does being a CEO mean to you?
Kisha A. Brown 13:49
Yeah. One of my favorite Martin Luther King Jr. quotes comes from one of his speeches about the drum major instinct.
And when I was little, my mom made us read that for church every Black History Month. And I was like, why don't we read I Have a Dream?
That's so much more popular. It wasn't until I got older that I really understood the fundamentals of the power really behind the drum major instinct speech.
And it basically breaks down how being a leader is to serve, right? Everybody wants to be great, but to be great is to serve.
And so I really see being a CEO as someone who is leading, but it's also serving those around them.
And whenever somebody joins my team, one of the first questions I ask them is, what is it that you want to get out of this experience?
How can I support your growth by being a part of this team? And so I don't take for granted other people who want to bring their time and their talent to build Justis connection.
And my role as a CEO is to lead, but also to really serve those people around who are lending their time and talent.
Gresham Harkless 14:58
Absolutely. Absolutely. And that's definitely a great reminder as a leader, as a CEO, to kind of understand that we're always going to be of service.
So the truly great leaders, the truly kind of historical people that make historical impact, like you mentioned, Martin Luther King, are able to understand that and able to kind of speak to that and act to that as well, too. So I appreciate you for sharing that with us.
Kisha A. Brown 15:18
Thanks. No problem.
Gresham Harkless 15:21
No problem. And well, Kisha, I truly appreciate you for taking some time at your schedule. What I wanted to do was pass you the mic, so to speak, just to see if there's anything additional you can let our readers and our listeners know. And of course, how best they can get a hold of you.
Kisha A. Brown 15:31
Thank you. So, yes, I definitely would love to hear from your listeners. So please feel free to contact me at info at JustisConnection.com.
And Justis is spelled alternatively, a little different, J-U-S-T-I-S, like just is, just is connection, which should get you thinking, what is just?
And that's really at the heart of what we do. It's been a pleasure to speak to you. I can't wait to hear from your listeners and just wish everybody the best today.
Gresham Harkless 16:05
Absolutely, absolutely. Well, the pleasure was all ours and I truly appreciate all the awesome work that you're doing and the impact that you're having upon the world.
We'll make sure to have those links in the show notes. It's J-U-S-T-I-S connection.com. So we'll make sure to have that link in the show notes as well too so that people can follow up with you.
But again, I appreciate you and I hope you have a phenomenal rest of the day.
Kisha A. Brown 16:23
Great. Thanks. You too, Gresham.
Outro 16:24
Thank you for listening to the I AM CEO Podcast, powered by CB Nation and Blue16 Media. Tune in next time and visit us at iamceo.co. I AM CEO is not just a phrase, it's a community.
Want to level up your business even more? Read blogs, listen to podcasts, and watch videos at CBNation.co. Also, check out our I AM CEO Facebook group. This has been the I AM CEO Podcast with Gresham Harkless Jr. Thank you for listening.
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