Meet Brianna Smith | Entertainment & Business Attorney/ Author

We had the good fortune of connecting with Brianna Smith and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Brianna, where are your from? We’d love to hear about how your background has played a role in who you are today?
I was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY and have lived there up until 17 years old when I left to go to college in DC at Howard University. Growing up, I’ve always been into arts, dance and choir. I loved using my imagination and just creating things or putting myself in different worlds. My mother was very big on education and so I was very driven and focused on school, which was also my focus so that I wouldn’t get the extracurriculars that I loved taken away from me. I guess you can say I developed the “ work hard, play harder” mindset from a young age because that’s exactly what I did. I got good grades, did well in school so I can do everything I wanted to do and my parents gave me that freedom to express myself. That encouragement and balance that my parents instilled in me led me to where I am today as an Intellectual Property attorney with a focus on Entertainment and Business law. I am able to make a living for myself, while also doing and being around people and things that I love. Everything came full circle honestly.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
As I’ve mentioned, I am an Entertainment and Business law attorney. I am now currently a second year attorney. I’ve always known that I wanted to be an attorney from a young age however, the process of getting to law school wasn’t that easy. In preparing to take the LSAT, I was depressed, working full time and barely had any money. I couldn’t afford to purchase a study course so I used passed down books and the internet to teach myself how to pass this exam. I didn’t do so well the first time, and I did even worse the second time. Despite that, I still applied to law school the second time, because at that point I had been two years removed from school. So many people told me not to go to law school and to take those exams again. Obviously I didn’t listen, because why? Once I was in law school I focused on school but it was hard, life is hard. So I had to find outlets again. That’s when I published my first poetry book, my second year of law school, I became a leader throughout the school to help promote and encourage creativity, inclusion and fulfillment throughout the school. I am a mentor and I love giving back to my community and those around me, so I’m constantly involved in those projects to continue fulfilling the other part of me. My job is an attorney but that’s not my identity. So finding the balance in my creativity and my career was and still is crucial for me. I’d say some lessons I’ve learned along the way is to stop telling everyone your dreams. Some people are just negative naysayers and hearing so many different opinions can steer you away from your goals and trusting in yourself and hearing the opinion of God which is the only opinion that matters. I will also say to seek professional help if you need it. I know a lot of people aren’t to keen or are embarrassed by therapy, but it helps. Therapy was so life changing for me and definitely helped me through the dark times during law school. Lastly, know that you are who you say you are. Speak nothing but positivity over yourself, your work, your brand and your life. It’s hard sometimes and I fall short of it too, but the second a negative thought enters your mind, counter it with a positive one. It’s a daily practice.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
This is a tough one, as I’m still fairly new to the city and have been trying to experience more post 2020. I would say when my friends are in town we definitely need to go to brunch, I love Toast on Lenox, Barney’s and Negril’s. Then depending on the season we can go to the belt line for a walk/talk and some drinks. I also look up certain activities depending on the vibes we want, so we can go to the high museum, if there’s a pop up art museum, or we can go hiking and do some sort of hands on activity. There are so many places I haven’t tried yet but honestly, I’ll look on TikTok to find what’s happening in ATL for the week, are there any live music shows, festivals or art shows going on because that’s what I’m into.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I have had multiple mentors and role models throughout my life. First and foremost my shout out goes to God because he has been there every single step of the way and my plans are laid out by him. Second, my parents for allowing me to follow my dreams without criticizing me. I’d also like to thank my mentors that I met at Howard, some of who are my peers and best friends. My boss Aaron Jenkins, from when I interned at Department of Justice, and Yolonda Mack, a woman who I consider my “sponsor”, someone who spoke my name in rooms I wasn’t even in. She allowed me to help with her events as she was head of the CBCPAC. Throughout law school I’ve also gained plenty of mentors, women who have founded their own nonprofits. The Gate City Bar Association, the Georgia Association for Black Women Attorneys, two organizations that are pivotal in my leadership development and success. Lastly, I’d like to shoutout my current employers at Arrington & Phillips, Aurielle Brooks and Vincent Phillips. They’ve definitely been the encouragement, support and inspiration I need as I continue to grow as a young attorney.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bts.esquire?igshid=MTNiYzNiMzkwZA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianna-smith-010977144?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app