We’re looking forward to introducing you to Wakisha E. Hazzard. Check out our conversation below.
Wakisha E., we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: What do you think is misunderstood about your business?
One of the most misunderstood aspects of being an attorney is the value of legal fees. This is one of the only professions where people regularly assume the fee is negotiable or that the work can be done for free.
I’ve been practicing law for 15 years. I spent 7 years in college and law school preparing for this work. My education, training, courtroom experience, and judgment are part of what clients are paying for—not just documents, filings, or time spent in a courtroom.
I became a lawyer to help people and to fight for justice, and I care deeply about the outcomes I work for. But passion does not erase the value of skill. When you hire an attorney, you are investing in:
Strategy
Legal protection
Experience navigating the system
Knowledge built through years of training and practice
The saying is true in law just like anywhere else: You get what you pay for. Quality advocacy has value. And when the stakes involve your freedom, your family, your rights, or your future—you want the person standing beside you to be prepared, experienced, and committed.
That commitment is what my fees reflect.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am a proud native of Savannah, Georgia. I earned my Bachelor of Science in Political Science from Georgia Southern University, with minors in English and Fashion Merchandising. After completing my undergraduate studies, I pursued my calling in the law and graduated from Miles Law School in 2009. Shortly thereafter, I laid the foundation for what is now The Hazzard Law Firm, LLC, where I focus on criminal defense, family and domestic relations, and personal injury matters.
I am an active member of the Birmingham Bar Association, Magic City Bar Association, Alabama State Bar, Alabama Lawyers Association, Alabama Association for Justice, and Delta Theta Phi, and I am also a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.
My accomplishments are rooted in faith and family. I consider myself a servant leader, dedicated to uplifting and advocating for others. Community service is not a requirement for me—it is a commitment. I volunteer through my sorority, the Birmingham Volunteer Lawyers Program, and the Junior League of Birmingham. I worship at New Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church, where service and purpose are central.
Every day, I strive to use my voice, my training, and my platform to empower, advocate, and serve.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What relationship most shaped how you see yourself?
The relationship that most shaped how I see myself is the one I shared with my father before his passing in 2021. As one of his daughters, he was my first example of unconditional love, protection, and guidance. He consistently taught me to recognize my own value and to advocate for myself, as well as for others who may not have the strength or voice to defend themselves.
My father was a disciplinarian, and as I matured, I came to understand that his firmness came from a desire for me to reach my full potential. He not only taught me about faith in God, but he lived it in a way that was visible, steady, and unwavering. His walk with Christ shaped my understanding of strength, purpose, and resilience.
He encouraged me to establish my own law firm at a pivotal moment in my career—after I had been overlooked for a position. Instead of discouragement, he reminded me of my worth and capability. That moment changed the trajectory of my professional life.
The time, love, principles, and unwavering belief he poured into me continue to ground me. Because of him, I live by the scripture: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” His lessons are not just memories—they are the foundation of who I am and how I lead, serve, and see myself today.
I am powerful because he taught me confidence.
I am seen because he taught me self-worth.
I am a warrior and a fighter because he taught me how to stand, even in the storm.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
The poet Maya Angelou once said, “Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair.” That statement resonates deeply with me. When I opened my law firm, I had no mentor, no roadmap, and no safety net. I am a first-generation attorney. I went to law school in a state where I had no family, no connections, and no network waiting to guide me. I felt lost at times—trying to find my place while building something from nothing. It truly felt like sink or swim.
Nothing in my life has ever simply fallen into my lap. I have had to push, fight, and work my way forward. And while success can be beautiful, it has never shaped me the way struggle has.
Suffering taught me gratitude—to appreciate every victory, every client, every door that opens.
Suffering taught me resilience—the kind you don’t learn from winning, but from getting back up.
Suffering taught me humility—to remember that life can change quickly; you can be flying high in April and shot down in May.
And most importantly, suffering taught me to see and protect the underdog—because I was once the underdog.
Success celebrates who I have become.
Suffering shaped who I am.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What’s a cultural value you protect at all costs?
I fiercely protect the cultural values of spirituality and faith, individualism, justice, and equality—core values deeply rooted in the African American culture. Our faith has sustained us for generations. From the spiritual hymns sung by our ancestors during slavery—songs that were communication, prayer, hope, and resistance—to the pews of the churches that nurtured our leadership and our liberation movements, faith has always been our foundation.
I am very aware that I did not arrive at this moment in my life and career solely by my own intelligence or effort. I stand on the shoulders of those who endured unthinkable conditions, fought for their humanity, and paved the way for the opportunities I have now. Their resilience, courage, and spiritual grounding are not just history—they are inheritance.
We are still fighting for equality today—whether in the courtroom, in the workplace, at the negotiation table, or simply in being respected for who we are. As a Black woman, I know what it means to have to prove your value twice over. But I also know who I am, where I come from, and Who covers me.
So I will always protect the values that carried our people when nothing else could:
Faith, when there was no freedom.
Individualism, when identity was stripped.
Justice, when the law did not see us.
Equality, even when society would prefer we forget our power.
These values remind me—and anyone who hears my voice—to know your worth when you walk into the room, speak at the table, or take up space in any organization.
I honor my ancestors by walking in that truth every day.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope people tell a story of kindness. I hope they say I was caring, loyal, and knowledgeable. I pray that along my journey, I touched lives in ways that mattered — that someone can look back and say, “She helped me when I needed it most.”
I want my life to mean something beyond titles and achievements. I want it to mean that I loved people well. That I showed up. That I gave, even when giving required sacrifice. I want people to remember that I was the type of person who would give you the shirt off her back, who would stand beside you, who would not turn away.
To me, that is the purpose of life — to leave others better than you found them.
So when my time is done here on earth, I pray the story that remains is simple and true:
Wakisha was kind. Wakisha helped people. Her life made a difference.
A life well lived. A life well done.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.hazzardfirm.com
- Instagram: thehazzardlawfirmllc
- Linkedin: The Hazzard Law Firm
- Facebook: The Hazzard Law Firm, LLC
- Yelp: The Hazzard Law Firm
- Youtube: Hazzard Law Firm
Image Credits
Maryann and William Hazzard
Seth James Photography
Tanisha Mason
Briana Wheeler
Dorian Cole
Phillip E. Fikes, Esquire
Tanya Singleton
Destiny Glover
