Name: Lanesha L. Sims
Age: 29
Family: Single, no kids
Pets: None
Education: Tougaloo College, B.A. Economics, summa cum laude; University of Mississippi School of Law, J.D., cum laude
Admitted to the Bar: Florida, Mississippi, District of Columbia, United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth and Eleventh Circuits, all federal district courts in Florida and Mississippi
Employed by: Holland & Knight
Field of practice: Litigation
Professional Organizations: Jacksonville Bar Association, Federal Bar Association, Florida Supreme Court Historical Society, American Bar Association
Community Involvement: Volunteer at Children’s Home Society of Florida (CHS), Mentor at R.V. Daniels Elementary School, Volunteer for JALA’s Ask-A-Lawyer pro bono project
How did you get involved?
I got involved with CHS when I first moved to Jacksonville in 2006. I was looking for an organization that provides services to disadvantaged children, and when I found CHS on the Internet, I reached out to its volunteer coordinator. Several lawyers at Holland & Knight mentor students at R.V. Daniels Elementary School as part of our “Opening Doors for Children” program. When I learned of their efforts, I joined.
When Daniel Bean first told me about the “Ask-A-Lawyer” pro bono project, it reinforced my view that Jacksonville has a remarkable legal community. Every lawyer has probably encountered the family member or friend who has a “quick question” about a real or perceived legal problem. The “Ask-A-Lawyer” project helps to make lawyers similarly accessible to all members of the community. It is a privilege to help.
How can someone else get involved?
Find an organization or cause that personally touches you, make a small commitment and follow through.
What have you learned through the experience?
There is no substitute in a child’s life for the time adults invest in them.
What was the last book you read?
“The Fountainhead” by Ayn Rand