Meet Antonisha Baker Esq.: Attorney and Entrepreneur

We had the good fortune of connecting with Antonisha Baker Esq. and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Antonisha, what habits do you feel helped you succeed?
My work ethic has greatly impacted my success in all aspects of my life. I set monthly goals for myself that includes ways to help me perform more efficiently. These goals are not always quantifiable, but they are based on quality. For instance, when I speak to a colleague or a friend regarding our professions we often discuss things that we are struggling with like developing new marketing strategies, stress management, and expansion. After each conversation I find myself brainstorming ways to assist my colleague with their weakness. I take this same creative approach with my clients. I was always told I work like a well kept machine, but even the best machines wear themselves out. I had to change my work ethic to align with my intrinsic values, so organization and creativity became more essential to me than billable hours. The question I ask myself at the end of each week is not how much did I accomplish, but how do I feel about what I have accomplished? My clients and colleagues appreciate my attentiveness to them. I have found that when I worked 18+ hour days I didn’t celebrate the accomplishments. I was either relieved to have completed the task or getting a head start on the next assignment. Now, I take the time to document the accomplishment of each small goal and the journey I took to get there.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
My firm is The Law Office of Antonisha Lyniece Baker, LLC. I focus on business transactions, intellectual property, entrepreneurship, and entertainment law. While most of my career has been tailored to practicing law in a niche area at a very high volume, I focus more on the exclusivity of my clients so that I can ensure that they receive the quality of work they deserve. I like to get down in the trenches with my clients so that I can best understand how to serve them. My business and academia background provides me the expertise to educate my clients so that they have a solid legal foundation for their endeavors. My goal is for every client to feel confident when they review contract terms, form a business entity, and/or register their intellectual property rights. I provide the knowledge, resources, and skills they need to understand the importance of what they are developing so that they can be well equipped to protect it. My journey to get to where I am has not been easy. I have helped many others develop successful businesses, but I would often feel intimidated to try it for myself. I took a risk and left a career that I loved in educating the next generation of lawyers to follow my lifelong dream to continue to practice law only to find myself reaching the lowest point of my life mentally. When I reached the point that I became extremely ill and could not handle the thought of getting out of bed let alone working to fulfill billable hour requirements, I knew that it was time for the fight of my life. This was a fight I simply could not afford to lose. I had to find myself again. When I started my firm this was my first step to falling in love with the practice of law, but this time I had to let go of the traditional expectations and develop my own style. I stopped seeking for affirmation and appreciation from others for the work I had done and I found appreciation within myself and the work product that I provided to my clients. I applaud myself for stepping out on faith and fighting to save myself. Through my business I am learning just what I am made of and it is only the beginning.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I would go to The Sugar Factory and Bar One in Miami Beach for food and drinks. Silverspot theaters for a movie and Wynwood to admire the local artwork.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would like to shoutout my Sisters In Law Erin Chance, Esq., Ayana Dobos, Esq., Summer Williams, Esq., Mirande Valbrune, Esq., Dayna Cook, Esq., Bruneley Lalanne, Esq., Nathacha Bien Aime, Esq., Jonell Murphy, Esq., Amber Hall, Esq., and Sue-Ann Robinson, Esq.. These women are phenomenal attorneys that I have the opportunity to learn from and grow with. It is one thing to be able to share your struggles and triumphs with someone, but it is much more valuable when you have a supportive tribe beside you that truly understands exactly what you are facing. These ladies are that tribe for me. They have taught me the true meaning of success is based on how I feel about the work I’m doing and the impact I leave on everyone I encounter.

Website: antonishalbakerlaw.com
Instagram: antonisha_brandingesq