Today we’d like to introduce you to La-Zondra Randolph, Esq.
Hi La-Zondra, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I started my first career in education as a high school English teacher in West Palm Beach, Florida. During my third year of teaching, I decided that it was time to pursue my dream and go to law school. I packed my bags and moved to Orlando, Florida to attend Florida A&M University, College of Law. I continued my high school teaching career and taught during the day and attended classes in the evening.
After I graduated with my juris doctorate, I was promoted to director and then executive director at an alternative education school. I was comfortable in those roles because I enjoyed the students, my colleagues, and the pay but other things started happening in the organization that let me know my time there was up. God had to push me out of those roles to pursue my legal career. After applying for positions at law firms for several months without a single interview, through faith, I decided to hang my own shingle and started LCR Legal. Business was slow at first but I received an offer that changed my life. I was approached by Bruce A. Mount Jr., Esq., who was then Virgil Hawkins, Florida Chapter National Bar Association president. He invited me to become a fellow for the organization’s newly-created pro bono program and I accepted without hesitation. The pay was a very small stipend but helping others resolve their legal issues was the best reward I could receive. I was able to grow my business monetarily while still providing pro bono services. Also, the Virgil Hawkins Fellowship led me to an adjunct professor position for the Guardian ad Litem Clinic at Florida A&M University, College of Law for summer 2014.
My passion has always been to help those in my community; that was what led me into teaching and then practicing law. In 2014, while building my practice and assisting with the fellowship, I established my nonprofit called The LCR Project (Love, Compassion, and Resolve), providing services to socially and economically disadvantaged individuals and families in Central Florida.
Fast-forward to today, I am still involved with the Virgil Hawkins Fellowship program as the director and have been serving in that capacity since 2019. I have expanded my practice from family law to also include personal injury, probate, and simple estate planning. My staff members (one of whom is a newly barred practicing attorney) have been instrumental in the firm’s success. The LCR Project has helped over 100 families and we’re adding two new outreach programs. I’m also looking forward to expanding the beauty supply store that I co-own, Kalon Karisma Hair and Beauty.
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?
Struggles started long before I went to law school. My father was murdered when I was eight. My mother and my brother’s mother were pregnant at the same time. I’m one month and one week older than my brother. Our mothers never kept us from our father or each other despite the hurt they endured. I always wondered why I had to suffer that tragedy but now I realize it’s a testimony and my purpose. I practice family law and I tell the story to my clients to help them see how important it is for them to peacefully co-parent despite their differences.
I’m thankful that my mother didn’t keep me from my father because I had the chance to have a beautiful relationship with him. I was a daddy’s girl. I also have a beautiful relationship with my brother and nieces and nephews. Had my mother kept me from my father and had my father chosen not to be around to take care of his responsibilities because of his situation, I may have resented them both. I would have missed out on knowing my dad, the first man I ever loved. I encourage my clients to learn from my story and see the bigger picture so they can do what’s in the best interest of the child. I’m the living example of what happens when parents do their co-parenting peacefully. I think I turned out alright. Lol!
Law school was hard, especially attending while teaching high school full-time. After passing the Florida Bar, I applied for many attorney positions but no one would hire me. I was alone in an industry that I didn’t have any experience in except for textbook knowledge I learned in law school. I had to make a conscious decision to find a mentor/seasoned attorney to learn the ins and outs so my firm could be successful without going through as many bumps and bruises I would have experienced had I not asked for help. Hanging my own shingle meant I had to learn how to practice law as well as how to run a business at the same time. It’s been a hard road but by the grace of God I have made it to eight years still learning along the way.
For the nonprofit, my biggest challenge was finding people who could bring my vision into fruition. It’s still difficult at times. Although we don’t have a large budget or a large number of members, we have been able to assist over 100 families over the years and continue to do our best to make a lasting impact in the community.
Because of God, I was able to endure through each of the struggles in my life. I use my testimonies and gifts to minister to believers and unbelievers alike. My Christian values and relationship with God provide me a strong foundation. I am a faithful member of The Experience Christian Center and sit on its outreach board. My church has heavily affected my spiritual growth.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Going into law after teaching middle and high school has given me a depth of patience and understanding when working with my clients. My tagline is “Aggressively Going the Extra Mile” and I go that extra mile for my clients in the areas of family law, personal injury, probate, simple estate planning, and notary public. The loss of my father and the great example my mother set in co-parenting sets me apart. My faith sets me apart from many of my colleagues in that it brings an extra layer of compassion to what can be some of the hardest times for my clients. I pray for my clients and their cases daily. We have daily devotion at the firm.
I am a member of several professional organizations, a board member for the African American Chamber of Commerce of Central Florida, Eatonville Chamber of Commerce, the Family Law Section of the Florida Bar; Real Property, Probate & Trust Law Section of the Florida Bar; Florida Justice Association; Paul C. Perkins Bar Association; Virgil Hawkins Florida Chapter National Bar Association; National Black Lawyers Top 40 Under 40; Florida A&M University Alumni Association, Feed My Sheep Resource Center, Inc., Women on the Rise, International, and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated.
Our programs that we have developed through The LCR Project are very unique. We developed the “Rekindling the Flame” program for homeless families, where we provide a date night for couples living at the shelters and encourage healthy relationships. We saw a need to support couples since healthy marriages are good for couples’ mental and physical health and affect the growth of their children. Since 2015, through The LCR Project’s Holiday Sleigh program, we have donated household goods and furniture to underserved families in the community during the holiday season. We initiated a third program, Task F.O.R.C.E (Fostering our Responsibility in Civic Education), during the summer of 2020, where we taught civics to middle and high school students. We plan on initiating additional programs for our seniors and cancer survivors in the future, so keep an eye on TheLCRProject.org for updates on that.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
LCR Legal continues to grow and I have a plan within the next 5-10 years to add multiple associates, individuals who are the right fit and have been practicing less than three years so that I can mentor them and provide them with employment opportunities that I wasn’t afforded when I first started my law career. I have mentored several law students over the years and my passion is to see them succeed.
For The LCR Project, the goal is to expand our programs and be able to help families across the state, in addition to continuing to serve local needs. There is a plan to extend Kalon Karisma Hair and Beauty business nationwide.
Contact Info:
- Email: Law Office: info@lcrlegal; Virgil Hawkins: assistant.vhfcnba@gmail.com; The LCR Project: thelcrproject@gmail.com; Kalon Karisma: kalonkarismabeauty@gmail.com
- Website: Law Office: lcrlegal.com; Virgil Hawkins: https://vhfcnba.wildapricot.org/; The LCR Project: thelcrproject.com; Kalon Karisma: kalonkarisma.com
- Instagram: Law Office: lcrlegal; Virgil Hawkins: vhfcnbafellowship; The LCR Project: the_lcr_project; Kalon Karisma: kalonkarisma
- Facebook: Law Office: LCRLegal; Virgil Hawkins: VHFCNBAFellowship; The LCR Project: the.lcr.project; Kalon Karisma: KalonKarisma
