Young lawyer Jakeana Paul sees her lifelong dream come true
From left to right are Karla Paul, mother, Jakeana Paul and James Paul, father. Photo by Timothy Ramsey
May 7, 2018, is a day Jakeana Paul will never forget. At 8:30 a.m, she was sworn in as an attorney at City Hall in front of a room full of family and friends.
Becoming at attorney was a childhood dream of Paul’s growing. She stuck with her passion throughout the years and her dream of helping the less fortunate has become a reality.
“Criminal defense is actually my passion and I just want to help people and to be a voice for those that are less fortunate,” Paul said. “That is the reason that I always wanted to be an attorney and be that voice for people to be heard.”
Paul attended the University of Greensboro for her undergraduate studies. She then enrolled in North Carolina Central University for law school. She says she feels blessed to be in this position after all of the hard work she has put in over the years.
“Words could not explain how blessed I am just to be here and to see everything that I have dreamed of come to fruition,” Paul continued. “All of the late nights, prayer, hard times, good times and everything just came full circle today.”
Paul was sworn in by renowned Forsyth County Judge Camille Banks-Prince while her parents stood only a few feet away. James and Karla Paul stated they could not be more proud of their daughter.
“She [Jakeana] is just an amazing young woman and the thing about her is that God has great work planned for her and I am just looking for the next mountian she will have to climb,” said Mr. Paul. “We are so excited and so proud of her as parents and we just say God bless her and just keep her.”
“She has always been so focused and she has always been such and extraordinary daughter,” said Mrs. Paul. “We are looking for the next level for her and what I see a lot in her is that when she sets her mind to something she is focused and gets it accomplished.”
Mr. and Mrs. Paul stated they have supported Jakeana throughout the years in her quest to become an attorney. They say Jakeana has never veered from her quest of becoming a lawyer. Her parents said they knew whatever she had her hands on God was going to take her through successfully.
Paul stated her focus now will be on criminal defense but in the future she may explore other options on the other side of the bench for the prosecution. She says one day she may even want to try her hand at becoming a judge.
“I am open to anything that God has planned for me,” said Paul. “The Lord has been there for me so far and I am truly blessed and excited for what He has in store for me.”
