Meet Destinee Small | Estate Planning & Business/Real Estate Attorney

We had the good fortune of connecting with Destinee Small and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Destinee, let’s talk legacy – what do you want yours to be?
I want people to remember these three things:

Be kind to EVERYONE. Be service-forward. And rest when you’re done.

Be kind to EVERYONE. Our world is mean. As humans, we lack understanding. We are rude to, talk bad about, don’t try to understand, or are explicitly hateful to people who look/act/think/believe/dress/grew up differently than us. And everyone is a part of the problem. We need to stand up for others. Being “not hateful” is not good enough. We have to undertake actions and work harder every single day to understand those around us – especially those who are “different” from us. It takes bravery to do this. Not everyone is up for the challenge. Are you? Let’s all try to leave a legacy of love.

Be service-forward. I think one of the biggest problems with the legal industry (and the world at large) is this mask of “humanitarianism” that people wear. We may have gotten into our industries for service, but now we’re too consumed by money or status. We may have started out wanting to “give back” but now we don’t have time for pro bono work. Take a moment to reflect. Nothing we have and nothing we do matters unless we are contributing to the lives of those who don’t have the resources to help themselves. We all have times when we get caught up in our own lives, so be intentional about setting monthly or quarterly service initiative goals. And if you don’t have time, then give your money to organizations that need it most. Put your money and time where your mouth is.

And remember, service looks different for everyone. Some people are serving their community by being an employee that supports their co-workers when they need it most. Some people embody service by being entrepreneurs and directly giving back within their role/business. Having a servant heart in what you are doing is the key. Service doesn’t come in one shape and you don’t have to be an entrepreneur or business owner to maximize your service capabilities.

Lastly, rest when you’re done. So many people work hard every single day for their entire lives – I don’t plan to do that and I won’t apologize for it either. I used to be chained to the idea that I must be productive 24/7, 365. Why? Your value in this world is not attributable to your level of daily production. I hope that I leave a legacy of rest. I want to show my children and grandchildren how to work hard, but I don’t want them to make productivity an idol. Work hard. Make the world a better place. Then rest.

What should our readers know about your business?
My law firm is about people. The premise of my firm is to ensure clients receive fair costs for service and prioritized communication and attention – both things that are deficient in the legal industry. Clients deserve more than just being another “number.” Most lawyers will tell you that the demands of the legal industry don’t give space for these humanistic practices, so I decided to open my own law firm.

Opening this firm hasn’t been short of risk, however. Opening my own law firm during my 3rd year of practice and while in my early 20s is in itself a huge risk. But, my faith paired with the people I have rooting for and supporting me along the way made the risks seem less scary. I didn’t and couldn’t face it alone.

The most important factor behind my success has been that I trust my gut and have confidence in myself. Now, it’s important to have trusted friends, advisors, counsel, etc. around you from whom you seek guidance. No one can do this life alone. However, the premise is that I’m not willing to conform to who people think I should be, what people think I should be doing, and how people think I should be acting, because my value doesn’t lie in others’ opinion of me and I trust myself.

Many were shocked that I would start my law firm so early (which surprisingly is not that uncommon, as many people start law firms right out of law school). Nonetheless, there were many question marks when I opened my firm. I was asked so many times: “why so early?” The answer is because I saw a need in the industry and I trust myself to fill the gap.

People will always think you’re “too ____.” Fill in the blank with whatever multitude of things you’ve been labeled. Bottom line: you can never please everyone without driving yourself in circles, so trust those closest to you and most importantly, trust your gut. If you have a vision for something, go for it and don’t let the opinions of the public deter you.

Live your life in a positive way that pours back into the world and you’ll never second guess yourself again, because you know the root of your intentions. My ultimate job is to reflect back to Jesus in my work, in my marriage, and within my interactions with others. If my goals are aiding that, I trust myself to take them on regardless of any negative public opinion.

Also, one of the most important things I’ve learned along the way is that THERE ARE MORE IMPORTANT THINGS IN LIFE THAN WORK. No surprise: I am a Gen Z-er! Our generation has been incorrectly labeled as “lazy.” The truth is, we just simply refuse to be enslaved to work. To be clear, not everyone has to feel this same way, but those who do want to prioritize their lives over work should not be villainized for it.

Funny enough, I now work more as an entrepreneur than I did when I was working for others. Honestly, we should really start calling it “work-life flexibility,” because it’s more important to me that I get to choose when to work. For someone like me, that’s extremely important because I may want to work on a holiday if that means I can take a random Tuesday off to celebrate my cousin’s birthday. That’s what work-life balance means to me.

All in all, this has been a great ride thus far. I can’t wait to see how many lives this Firm can change, how much education we can provide, and how much community we can build.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I’m a lifelong Heat fan (which I inherited from my grandmother), so if it’s basketball season, there’s no chance my best friend is visiting without us heading down to Biscayne to watch a Heat game at the Triple A. Then we’d head to B&M Market, which is a hole-in-the-wall Caribbean restaurant with top-notch food!

I’d also bring them to Jungle Island, which is a nostalgic place for me. My parents took my siblings and me to Jungle Island many times back in the day. While it may be hard to beat the heat, it’s a must-do.

The last place I’d recommend would be the Botanical Gardens on Miami Beach. My husband is a lover of nature and has taught me to use nature as a mental safe space and escape. My grandmother also loves flowers, and although I have a black thumb, I love being in the Botanical Gardens. It’s a great place to relax, breathe, and just exist.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’m dedicating this shoutout to my mom and my husband.

My mom was the most driven, faithful, loving, funny, and supportive woman who I lost when I was 17 years old. Without her, I wouldn’t have a vision of who I want to be. I love you, Mom.

I also want to dedicate this shoutout to my husband. He supported me throughout high school, college, and law school, and is still my #1 fan. I’m never afraid to say that none of this would be possible without him. I love you, Jordan.

Website: https://smallandassociateslaw.com

Instagram: @destineecsmall / @smallandassociateslaw

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/destinee-campbell-small/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/BYZVotETdjN4ofKy/?mibextid=LQQJ4d

Other: Booking Page: https://smallandassociateslaw.cliogrow.com/book
TikTok: @destineecsmall

Image Credits
Maybeline Photography