Today we’d like to introduce you to Zakiya J. Norton.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
After many years at big law firms and in corporate positions, I felt accomplished but also knew that I could blaze my own trail outside of that structured and sometimes limiting environment. I was inspired, ambitious, and seeking the ever-elusive work/life balance that seemed to exist only in fairy tales. As a minority woman lawyer, I knew I had to design my own destiny, and could not wait for it to fall into my lap.
To that end, I undertook a volunteer role at a local legal aid organization where I helped people who would not otherwise have access to expert counsel. Putting my skills and knowledge to work for the benefit of others was rewarding and fulfilling. In addition, it turned out to be fortuitous, because I met another minority woman lawyer with remarkable drive and vision, who practiced law the same way I did, and who laughed at all my jokes.
On a wing and prayer, only three months later, co-founder Somita Basu and I pooled our resources and opened our estate planning and probate law firm in Silicon Valley and soon expanded to Southern California.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The early years were a bit of trial and error, discovering what works best to manage and grow an exceptional law firm. We tackled the legal side with ease and confidence but knew that we also had to establish a firm grip on the business side. To that end, we stayed on top of the financial data and prioritized superb client service.
It has been said that not all money is good money and we learned that the hard way. By narrowing our focus to the clientele who fit our firm profile and who respected our hard-won expertise, a smooth path was soon forged. The more we worked with like-minded people, the more quickly our circle of influence widened. When new clients and referral partners came our way, the inherent synergy spawned exponential growth and an elevated level of satisfaction for all.
As you know, we’re big fans of Norton Basu, LLP. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
We practice estate planning and probate law. This includes drafting Wills and Trusts, managing probate matters, administering a Trust due to death, and Trust & Estate litigation.
Additional areas of practice include Conservatorships, Guardianships, and LLC Formation.
Somita and I are also experienced mediators handling Probate or Trust Administration disputes, Family Law (Divorce) issues, and real estate matters including landlord/tenant disputes.
We offer cultural competency to minority and immigrant communities who are historically underserved by legal professionals. We do this in several ways such as presenting information at free workshops, maintaining strong connections with local community leaders, and by relying on our experience and the knowledge of our diverse staff.
We revolutionized the typical client experience by providing swift response times. That may sound fundamental, but we have found that it is a huge differentiator in the legal industry. By resisting the urge to speak over the heads of our clients and by answering questions in a timely manner, we set ourselves apart from the outset.
At Norton Basu, we offer the best of both worlds. Clients benefit from the knowledge we gained at big law firms delivered with the personal touch of a small law firm.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
Somita and I are dedicated to educating the local community about the vital importance of estate planning. According to some estimates, about 67% of Americans have no estate plan. One primary reason for this may be that people tend to procrastinate about such matters, but it may also be because they fail to understand the urgency and the nature of the consequences. We are working to close that knowledge gap by offering workshops and presentations, so we welcome speaking opportunities.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.nortonbasu.com/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nortonbasu
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zakiyanorton/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/norton-basu-los-angeles?osq=norton+basu
Image Credits
Steven Cotton
