Cierra Esq dedicated nearly a decade to gaining her law degree and passing the bar. For the last five years, she has built her career as a lawyer with cases involving JB Hunt, Target, Party City and other large corporations. While she credits her success to commitment and hard work, she admits that her journey has been an uphill battle against stereotypes and discrimination. As a woman of color, she is looking to not only establish herself as a successful lawyer = she is also committed to paving the way for other minorities and women to find success as well.
Hey Felicia!
The beginning of Cierra’s career was certainly not a walk in the park. From the moment she walked into her first job at a law firm, she already felt that she was being treated differently than her colleagues. “My boss frequently referred to me as Felicia. Whether he meant to be funny or not, it wasn’t appropriate.” It was clear that the reference to the black character in the movie “Friday,” was nothing short of racial harassment. This experience was also combined with difficulties gaining recognition as an attorney when entering a courthouse. “My bar card was delayed in the mail so the security guards would deny me entry in the attorney only line because they didn’t believe I was an attorney.” Although, she was a bit surprised by the stark reality of discrimination, she was aware that she was not the only one dealing with it. “In America, only five percent of all lawyers are black and only one or two percent of that number are women.” Having experienced this in a law office, Cierra has made it her mission to help combat discrimination in her industry and others as well.
Pushing Past The Stereotypes
Despite the rough start, Cierra has pushed through the hardships and established herself as a top performing lawyer. Already named on the Top Forty Under 40 by the National Black Lawyers Association, Cierra is looking to continue growing her career. “I felt small when I started at my first firm, but now I have partnered with Morgan and Morgan, which is one of the biggest law firms in America.” While she is passionate about combating discrimination, her main focus in her practice is on business law. “For me, Business is law. If you want to stay in business, you need to make sure you’re following the rules and regulations.” The perfect example of this is a case she is currently working on regarding big companies such as Lyft, Grubhub, Uber, Doordash and Amazon. “You need to have a thorough understanding of business when you start. Make sure you speak with the right professionals.” In her pending lawsuit with the companies listed above plus several others, her clients have a case because the company mislabeled their drivers as independent contractors instead of full-time employees – a mistake that saved the companies millions in tax withholdings.
Looking To Thrive and Inspire
As she continues to grow her career as a lawyer, Cierra is also looking to help others find fulfillment and financial freedom as well. “Currently, I am looking to share my success with others.” As a top ranked lawyer and a rising entrepreneur, Cierra Esq has built a brand for herself on personal media as a law expert and a business coach. “I have defended corporations when they make mistakes. Part of my goal is to teach people not to make costly mistakes that billion-dollar businesses have.” Passionate and driven, Cierra Esq has established herself as a real player in a very marginalized industry and is looking to help others do the same. If you are interested in learning more about Cierra Esq and her story go give her a follow on Instagram or check out her website.
