Ayana Johnson from Johnson Legal discusses her background, inspired by her family's legal profession and her initial interest in criminal justice reform. She shares her journey from growing up in Delaware to attending Howard University for law school. Ayana describes her career transition from being an Assistant District Attorney in Brooklyn to focusing on estate planning and elder law. She highlights the importance of estate planning in building generational wealth, especially in underserved communities. Ayana also explains various aspects of estate planning, the emotional challenges involved, and how she helps clients prevent family disputes over inheritances. Additionally, the conversation covers the nuances of probate court, the role of attorneys in estate planning, and Ayana's personal interests outside of her profession.
STORY:
00:00 — Welcome
03:57 — Growing Up in Delaware
06:35 — Law School Journey
13:11 — Meeting Her Husband
19:08 — Transition to Estate Planning
27:47 — Exploring Racism in Legal History
29:28 — Switching Career Paths: From Criminal Law to Estate Planning
31:17 — Challenges and Realizations in Family Law
33:00 — Starting a Private Practice: The Journey and Challenges
36:45 — The Emotional Impact of Estate Planning
38:08 — Balancing Personal Life and Professional Responsibilities
44:19 — The Complexities of Estate Planning and Legal Documents
51:17 — Pet Trusts and Unusual Estate Planning Cases
54:45 — Concluding Thoughts
BIOGRAPHY:
Ayana Johnson spent the first few years of her career as an Assistant District Attorney in Brooklyn, New York, where she prosecuted and indicted hundreds of cases. She later moved on to an estate planning law firm in Maryland, where she had the privilege of learning about asset and family protection through the use of estate planning documents. Further, Attorney Johnson has interned at the United States House of Representatives, at the Superior Court for the District of Columbia, for the Office of the Federal Public Defender for the District of Delaware, and for the Delaware Department of Justice.
LINKS
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ayana-johnson-esq-173b22126/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/johnsonlegalpllc
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Johnson-Legal/61555284787382/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@johnson.legal
Website: https://johnson-legal.co
