Wellness is the New Normal (Unpublished 7/1/2023)

Ms. R. Javoyne Hicks Related Seminars and Products

KnotFree Living LLC

R. Javoyne Hicks serves as Chair of the State Bar of Georgia’s Lawyers Living Well Committee and as a member of the Executive Committee for State Bar’s Board of Governors. Over the last several years Ms. Hicks has been committed to promoting the importance of wellness on all levels--physical, mental, social and financial--throughout the programs offered by the State Bar and throughout the practice of law. She often serves as a speaker for several organizations and as a panel member and presenter for numerous continuing legal education classes. She helped develop the State Bar of Georgia’s 1^st Wellness and Practical Skills 12 hour Continuing Legal Education Seminar. Now in its 4^th year, it is a Wellness Institute. Javoyne also spearheaded the movement to create a Wellness Center as part of the State Bar of Georgia. Her goal is to normalize the attention everyone should be paying to their own well being and minimize the stigma that exist that keeps people from seeking help when needed. As such, Javoyne serves on the Boards of the Institute for Well-Being in Law (IWIL) and the American Foundation of Suicide Prevention (AFSP).

In her day job, she serves as a Chief Senior Assistant District Attorney in the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office and as certified Leadership Life Coach. She has served as the DeKalb County State and Magistrate Courts Clerk, as a Deputy Chief Assistant Solicitor-General in charge of the Diversion Programs for the Solicitor-General’s Office. Javoyne has been an Assistant Attorney General in the Georgia Attorney General's Office and as an Associate Magistrate in DeKalb County. She served as an Assistant District Attorney in three judicial circuits in Georgia and as an Civil Associate conducting internal investigations and trial logistics. In addition, Javoyne has served as a past president of the DeKalb Bar Association and on the boards of Georgia Association of Black Women Attorneys, DeKalb Lawyers Association and Leadership Georgia.

Javoyne is a native of Raleigh, North Carolina and graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she earned her undergraduate and law degrees. She is also the proud mom of two fabulous daughters, Victoria and Sydney.  

Mr. Doug Leonard Related Seminars and Products

Douglas Leonard Consulting

Mrs. Amanda Renee Flora Related Seminars and Products

Henry County Magistrate Court

Amanda is currently serving as the Presiding Magistrate Judge in Henry County Magistrate Court.  Prior to joining the Magistrate Court in Henry County she spent 12 years working in the criminal field as a prosecutor, public Defender and an assistant solicitor general. After being offered an opportunity to take the leap into private practice, in 2016 Amanda joined the firm of Pandora E. Palmer, P.C. where she learned the ins and outs of a private practice which focused on domestic, criminal, personal injury, probate and juvenile court.  This allowed Amanda to expand her knowledge of the law well beyond the criminal field she had been practicing in for so many years.  Amanda currently serves on the Board of Governor’s and is in her second term doing so and is currently serving on the legislative committee.  She also serves on the Magistrate Court Council, as a District 6 Representative while also serving on the curriculum committee, executive committee and legislative committee.  Previously Amanda has served locally for the Henry County Bar Association in the role of President, Vice President, Secretary, and member at large.  Her community involvement included serving on the board of directors for Haven House (a domestic violence women’s shelter), Prevent Child Abuse Henry County and the Southern Crescent Sexual Assault Center.  Currently she serves as Secretary for the Raise Me Up Foundation in Henry County. She lives in Henry County with her husband and their four year old son, Trevor.

Tara Simkins Related Seminars and Products

Ms. Rotsen Dara Diya Law Related Seminars and Products

Claimant's attorney

Ramos & Law

Claimant's attorney

Ms. Alina Lee Related Seminars and Products

Your Ad Attorney, LLC

Ms. Frederica Joy White Related Seminars and Products

The White Legal Group LLC

Ms. Idara Ekaete Bassey Related Seminars and Products

Mr. Paul Enrique Knowlton Related Seminars and Products

Stanton Law, LLC

Paul Knowlton

Paul’s corporate experience began in construction and forensic engineering before transitioning to law. He is licensed to practice before all State of Georgia Courts, the Northern District of Georgia, is a registered patent attorney, and Henning trained commercial mediator and arbitrator. His leadership roles since law school include law firm director, law firm co-founder and managing partner, turnaround CEO, and Partner. Paul is currently a Partner with the Stanton Law Firm, co-author of the business ethics book Better Capitalism, and is an active leader on the State Bar of Georgia Attorney Wellness and Lawyer Assistance Program committees. B.S., Temple University; J.D., Georgia State University College of Law; M.Div., Mercer University.

Ms. Paula J. Frederick Related Seminars and Products

State Bar of Georgia

Paula Frederick is General Counsel for the State Bar of Georgia, a unified bar organization with 54,000 members. As general counsel, Frederick is responsible for interpreting the ethics rules for lawyers, prosecuting lawyer discipline cases, and providing legal advice to the officers and directors of the organization. She has served in the Office of the General Counsel for 35 years, and was Deputy General Counsel for Discipline before assuming the General Counsel role.

Frederick is a 1982 graduate of the Vanderbilt University School of Law and a 1979 graduate of Duke University. Prior to joining the Office of the General Counsel, she spent six years as a staff attorney with the Atlanta Legal Aid Society handling civil legal matters for low-income people.

Frederick is a past president of the Atlanta Bar Association and the Georgia Association of Black Women Attorneys. She is also an active member of the American Bar Association, where she is chair of the Center for Professional Responsibility.  In the past she has served the ABA as chair of its Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility, chair of the Standing Committee on Lawyer Regulation, as a member of the Board of Governors, and as chair of the Center for Racial and Ethnic Diversity. 

Hon. Shondeana Crews Morris Related Seminars and Products

DeKalb County Superior Court

Judge Shondeana C. Morris was appointed to the DeKalb County Superior Court – by Governor Brian Kemp on June 17, 2019.  Prior to Judge Morris’ appointment, she served as a DeKalb County State Court Judge.

A graduate of Lakeside High School in DeKalb County, Judge Morris earned a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism from The University of Georgia and a Master’s degree in Criminal Justice from Albany State University. She graduated from Mercer University’s Walter F. George School of Law in 1997 and was admitted to the Georgia Bar that same year.

After graduating law school, Judge Morris served as an Assistant Solicitor in Atlanta. In 1999, she joined the Fulton County Office of the District Attorney and was promoted to Deputy District Attorney. As Deputy District Attorney, Judge Morris provided leadership to the Public Integrity Unit; the Crimes Against Women and Children Unit, where she worked to protect families and children.

Judge Morris is involved with many professional, civic, and religious organizations. She is a member of the State Bar of Georgia, the American Bar Association, the Georgia Association of Black Women Attorneys, the DeKalb Bar Association, the Atlanta Bar Association, the Gate City Bar Association, and the Lawyers Club of Georgia. She serves as a member of the Georgia Association of Black Women Attorneys, and the Chair of the Gate City Bar Association Judicial Section. Judge Morris also serves as a proud member of the University of Georgia Alumni Board of Directors and Mercer University Law School Alumni BALSA Council Vice President. Committed to the development of young people, she is also a member of the Criminal Justice Advisory Board for Atlanta Technical College and frequently serves as a mentor and speaker on topics ranging from law and ethics to mental and physical wellness.

Judge Morris is married to attorney Joe Morris, III. They are the proud parents of two young children and are foster parents under Georgia Division of Family and Children Services. 

Hon. Render Max Heard Jr. Related Seminars and Products

Tifton Circuit Juvenile Court

Mr. Matthew Maurice McCord Related Seminars and Products

The Law Office of Matthew M McCord PC

Hon. Alvin T. Wong Related Seminars and Products

DeKalb County State Court

Hon. Jaslovelin Lall Related Seminars and Products

The RMN Agency/BAY Mediation and Arbitration

Ms. Candice Devonne McKinley Related Seminars and Products

C McKinley Law & Associates

Hard work, integrity, and a commitment to service are the guiding principles that serve as motivation and inspiration for Candice McKinley. With over 20 years of experience in education, law, and policy, Candice created C. McKinley Law, a black owned, women led law firm to give other minority women the opportunity to learn and grow as litigators while still having a life and family. As a first generation college and law school graduate she is the first lawyer in her family. She is a proud mother of two scholars who received their education in the DeKalb County Public School District. Candice’s family roots and passion for justice, reform, and equity---across racial, economic and quality of life divides---keeps her grounded to stay vigilant in pursuing and obtaining the desired results for her clients.

In 2020, Candice joined the DeKalb County School District (DCSD) as a legal-eagle in the Office of Legal Affairs and then transitioned into DCSD’s Office of School Innovation. This up close and personal experience has reaffirmed Candice’s students, and parents' advocacy, to do more to promote, support, and ensure schools as safe places to learn and thrive for all students. As a civil litigator and armed with her prior experiences in the private sector, specializing in the areas of civil rights, education, employment, and personal injury---Candice remains steadfast in identifying all opportunities to be engaged, an active participant in causing and effectuating change, reform, and activism.

Upon completion of her undergraduate degree, Candice worked in the Atlanta Public School System as a first grade teacher in the Bowen Homes housing community. Following teaching, Candice co-developed a community based after-school program in the Vine City area. After leaving the classroom and earning her law degree, she relocated to Washington D.C. to work in the Office of Senator Michael F. Bennet on the No Child Left Behind (NCLB)/Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) reauthorization. This experience sealed her fate to forever combine her passions for the law and high quality, sustainable education.

EDUCATION: Candice earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Spelman College, Teacher Certificate from Georgia State University Education Department, and her Juris Doctorate from Florida A&M University College of Law.

HOBBIES & FUN STUFF: Traveling to anywhere in the world is enjoyed by Candice the adventurer. She does, however, prefers destinations that have a warm climate and are near an ocean. Candice is a former triathlete and a current coach of the SBR Triathlon Team. And she is also the Vice Chair of the Georgia Bar Association Wellness Committee, and a certified Pilates instructor.