Lawsikia Hodges has been a commercial real estate attorney with Foley & Lardner for three and a half years. Most of her work focuses on real estate transactions including acquisitions, condominium development and master planned developed communities and other real estate projects in Jacksonville.
CHOOSING A CAREER
“I have wanted to be an attorney since I was three. At a very young age, I knew what I wanted to do. It turned out that I really stuck with that and all through law school it never changed. I just always wanted to be an attorney. My personality fit it as I got older. I love to write. I love to speak. I love to debate. I always tried to be right. That was me.”
WHY COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE LAW?
Hodges attended the summer program at Foley & Lardner and was exposed to all of the practices they offer. “There were two openings here. One is labor and employment and one in real estate. I loved real estate and property, so I chose the real estate slot.”
CLIENTS
Corporate developers including Wachovia, Amelia Island Company, Eagle Harbor and Vestcor Companies.
TODAY’S ISSUES
“With the work that I’ve done on condominiums, I’m not sure I’ve come across any issues. The condominium developers that we are working with are doing great right now because the condominium market is very high. I guess if there was an issue it will be that the market is not going to last long. Over the last couple of years, we have been crazy busy. I guess the only issue will be what happens when the market goes down. The only answer to that is that when the market goes down, they will start infiltrating other real estate areas and ventures. Actually a couple of our clients have actually starting doing that. Conversions are a hot topic now - maybe then it will be buying lots of shopping centers.”
FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOUR JOB?
“The resources. I love the people that I work with. The attorneys that I work with are very talented. That is one of the great things about working at a national law firm; they recruit some of the best and the brightest lawyers.
“In my practice group here, I am the only female minority attorney. All of these guys are just great. I sort of feel privileged to be in their presence.”
MENTOR?
Foley & Lardner has a very structured mentoring program so she was assigned a mentor as soon as she got there. “My mentor, Matt Breuer, is a great guy. The mentor is supposed to help you not only with your career development, but also to help you with any work issues you have.”
ADVICE FOR NEW LAWYERS?
Hodges said you really need to love what you are doing and the subject area you choose. “I don’t know which is one is more important, but you need to love the people that you work with and love what you do. I would think loving the people you work with is most important. If you are thinking about going somewhere and making it a career where you want some longevity you need to be around people who will be promoting you, have a vested interest in your career development and help champion you along. Some quick advice would be to be diligent and enthusiastic.”
KEY TO SUCCESS?
“My own determination coupled with the fact that I had a mother who really believed in me.”
COLLEGE
Hodges earned her bachelor’s degree in political science with a minor in history from the University of North Florida and her law degree from University of Florida College of Law. “When I went to law school, I just absolutely loved it. I should have my own infomercial about going to law school! It is such a great experience in general and it is a great learning experience. It is awesome.”
BUSY MOM?
Hodges had her first baby four days after graduating from law school in May 2002 and then she took the bar in April 2002 and then started working at her job in September 2002. “I’m a survivor.”
HER NAME?
Was it fate that her first name, Lawsikia, has “law” in it? She said her mother must have known before she was born. “My first name actually means ‘African Queen’ and my middle name is Jumoke, which means ‘Little Lady’.” Hodges stands just a little over 5-feet-1.
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS?
Commercial Real Estate Women of Jacksonville, American Bar Association and The Jacksonville Bar.
- by Michele Newbern Gillis