       |
|
Fall 2004 E-Newsletter
Shaka Johnson: PERSONALLY AND PROFESSIONALLY
Bare walls, a bookshelf in the stages of being filled, and a desk with enough paperwork to make one feel overwhelmed just looking at it—such is the life of a rookie attorney, or in this case, Shaka Johnson. At just 27 he’s completed a full year as a practicing attorney, and is one of the few attorneys to come to the Firm by way of Higgs’s clerkship program before being offered a full time position.
Shaka is a San Diego native and the oldest of five children. His father is a pediatrician and his mother sits as an Administrative Law Judge. While it would seem that his chosen profession was influenced by his mother’s career, Shaka’s first dream was to become a pilot in the Air Force. That is, until a different sort of court setting peaked his interest—the basketball court. From high school through his final year at Sonoma State, Shaka’s achievements as both a scholar and an athlete offered several choices for a career path.
When asked what motivated him to become an attorney he said that while attending Sonoma State he decided to take a business law class. “I found myself actually highlighting my textbook, raising my hand in class to participate, and having a real interest in the subject matter. From there, I began to take more law related classes.” By senior year, Shaka had applied to the University of San Diego School of Law eager to satisfy his legal interests.
But later, during the summer following his first year of law school, Shaka found himself at a crossroads. While interning for a prominent law firm in Northern California, he began to question the desires of his heart. Thoughts of his childhood dream to be an Air Force pilot resurfaced. Investigative steps were taken to learn more, but his second year of law school quickly approached and he decided to give school one more semester. Two years later, and armed with awards such as “Most Outstanding Trial Competition Team,” Shaka completed his time at USD School of Law, and joined Higgs.
His tenure at Higgs has had the same obstacles any first year attorney faces. “Everyone knows you’re younger and so you want to build up their confidence in you,” says Shaka. “But,” he adds, “there is a continual learning curve—every day something happens that teaches me something new, so it makes things more interesting.”
Interesting is also the word to describe some of Shaka’s extracurricular activities. Having never lost his love for sports, Shaka, along with a friend, decided he could take his enthusiasm for sports to another level. Three months later, they unveiled www.truesportstalk.com, a sports forum where viewers can read the “Weekly Rant,” post comments or questions, or listen live for three hours each weekend as Shaka highlights recent sports affairs.
More conscious than most his age of the need to give back to the community, Shaka is a part of the Volunteers in Parole program which provides an opportunity for young parolees to befriend someone outside of the system. “The time I invest could be as simple as a phone conversation or a dinner out somewhere. I try to be a mentor because all I am essentially doing is giving a person one more friend. Sometimes trouble finds people, so I like to help people stay out of that situation,” responds Shaka.
At work, at play, and in life, Shaka is quite an activist. He fills his days challenging his mind with his newfound career, his body with his weekly basketball games, and his soul with his dedication to helping others. On his left arm you will find a yellow Lance Armstrong Live Strong bracelet that he wears as a sign of support for an uncle currently battling cancer. “I wear it more as a reminder to myself to live strong and take advantage of every day as no one knows what is around the next corner.”
|
|
