FL licensed attorney

SHAWNNA-KAY L. JOHNSON

**** ******* *** **********, ** 33414 561-***-**** **********@*******.***

BAR ADMISSION:

Admitted to practice in Florida, 2026

Licensed to Practice in the island of Jamaica, 2019

EDUCATION:

NATIONAL LOUIS UNIVERSITY, Tampa, FL

Doctor of Business Administration (Present)

UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI SCHOOL OF LAW, Coral Gables, FL

Joint Degree Juris Doctor/LL.M. in U.S. and Transnational Law, December 2024

Activities: Jamaican Bar Association, Jamaican-American Bar Association (Secretary), American Bar Association

NORMAN MANELY LAW SCHOOL, Kingston, Jamaica

Legal Education Certificate (equivalent to Juris Doctor), August 2019

Activities: Treasurer, Human Rights Club and Children Outreach

UNIVERSITY OF LONDON, London, England Bachelor of Laws, cum laude, May 2016

EXPERIENCE:

TABLES LAW PA, Miami, Florida

Legal Intern, October 2024- February 2025

Prepare Motions, Prepare Quitclaim deeds and application to Quiet Title, Prepare Discovery requests and responses, liaise with third parties. Conduct Legal Research and advise attorneys. Assist with the distribution of Estate Assets

FOURNARIS & SANET PA, Miami, Florida

Law Clerk, September 2024-Present

Draft and file Complaints, Counterclaims, Prepare Discovery requests and response, Prepare Trial Exhibits, File documents in Bankruptcy Court, Conduct extensive research in Medical Malpractice claims

GOLDLAW, West Palm Beach, Florida

Law Clerk, February 2024-September 2024

Work along multiple attorneys in fast pacing environment and Prepare Motions, draft Pleadings, prepare Mediation PowerPoint and other trial preparation. Conduct Legal Research and advise attorneys. Attend Depositions. Prepare and successfully contest Motions for Summary Judgment. Prepare Complaint for high profile matters.

UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI SCHOOL OF LAW, Miami, Florida

Legal Intern, August 2023-July 2024

Attended hearings, Prepare Motions, Briefs, Liaise with court. Conduct Legal Research and advise attorneys. Attend client interviews with USCIS. Successfully represented client in Asylum proceedings.

BUCKLAND & DANG P.A, Miami, Florida

Law Clerk, June 2023-February 2024

Attended Mediation, Prepare Motions, Prepare and contest Summary Judgment motions, Jury Instructions, and other trial preparation. Conduct Legal Research and advise attorneys.

SIMONE MORRISRATTRAY & ASSOCIATES, Kingston, Jamaica

Head Litigation Attorney, February 2020 – August 2022

Attended court hearings and successfully secured judgements in favor of clients. Counseled clients with matters dealing with family disputes. Prepared written submissions adopted by the court. Overturned ruling with strong case law. Slashed long court processing times by corresponding with insurance companies to reach early settlements while ensuring that clients’ benefits are maximized. Drafted, reviewed, and negotiated $1,000,000 contracts for the sale of property. Provided after-sales support to new homeowners. Drafted numerous documents for divorce proceedings. Effectively mediated disputes. Presented and summarized cases to various government agencies, Judges and other third parties.

DAVIS, ROBB & CO, Kingston, Jamaica

Junior Attorney, July 2019 – October 2019

Reduced senior attorneys’ workload by independently interviewing clients and authoring several court and other legal documents. Assisted senior attorneys with the preparation of trials and other court proceedings by preparing legal opinions and briefs. Promoted to Junior Attorney based on merit and for contributing to the successful outcome of cases. Prepared written correspondence to third parties. Researched case law and legislation and delivered analysis to senior attorney.

KNIGHT, JUNOR & SAMUELS, Kingston, Jamaica

Legal Intern, June 2017 – July 2017

Prepared memoranda, pleadings, and briefs for attorneys. Authored several affidavits. Aided on complex and high profiled legal matters. Contributed to solving old cold cases. Researched laws and regulations and delivered analysis and assessments to attorneys.

VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE:

Americans for Immigrant Justice, Miami, FL —2023–Present

Volunteer: Assist with case intake, client communication, and general support for asylum seekers, refugees, and unaccompanied minors, including advocacy for LGBTQ+ migrants.

ROLLINGTON Town PRIMARY SCHOOL, Kingston, Jamaica, April 2019

Volunteer. Partnered with the Norman Manley Law School children’s outreach for school improvement project.

Children’s Outreach Program – Norman Manley Law School, Kingston, Jamaica

Treasurer & Project Coordinator, 2018–2019

volunteer Developed community education initiatives promoting child welfare and access to justice.

Human Rights Club – Norman Manley Law School, Kingston, Jamaica

Volunteer Participated in organizing seminars, outreach programs, and student-led initiatives on human rights issues, including child welfare and access to justice.

JAMAICA ENVIRONMENT TRUST, Kingston, Jamaica, January 2016

Volunteer. Improved knowledge of the impact of poorly handled waste & personal responsibility for our own waste.

LANGUAGES:

Spanish (conversational/intermediate)

AWARDS & HONORS:

Henry Latimer Scholarship T.J. Reddick Bar Association Scholarship Recipient, 2024

Jamaican-American Bar Association Scholarship Recipient, 2023

English Language- Graduation 2010 Holy Childhood High School

Secondary School’s Design Competition 2008/2009- Finalist- Jamaica Deposit Insurance Corporation

SELECTED RESEARCH & WRITING

“Unidroit Under a Microscope: Illegality and How It Applies under the UNIDROIT Principles and English Law” — Unpublished research paper, University of Miami School of Law (2024). Analyzed the application of the UNIDROIT Principles to issues of illegality, with comparative insights under English law, highlighting transnational contract law implications and scholarly interpretations.

“Broadcast Regulation and the Criminalization of Culture: Evaluating Jamaica’s Ban on Music and Television that Glorify Crime” — Unpublished essay analyzing constitutional rights, freedom of expression, and cultural regulation in Jamaica (2023).

Asylum Brief on LGBTQ+ Persecution — Legal memorandum and supporting brief submitted to USCIS through the University of Miami Immigration Clinic (2024), advocating for protection under international human rights law for a gay asylum applicant.

“Legal Pathways to Protection: Examining Due Process and Non-Refoulement in the U.S. Asylum System” — Independent research paper assessing procedural barriers faced by unaccompanied minors (2024).

“As a Future Attorney: Advocating for and Advancing the Rights of the African-American Community” — Unpublished essay reflecting on strategies to address systemic challenges and promote social justice through legal practice (2023).

“Children at the Border: The Moral and Legal Imperatives of Protection under the Convention on the Rights of the Child” — Unpublished essay presented during Human Rights Club seminar, Norman Manley Law School (2018).

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