Today we’d like to introduce you to Mariza Lockhart
Hi Mariza, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I started Lockhart Legal in 2017 with the aim of providing reasonably affordable legal services. As a law student I volunteered with a free legal clinic and discovered that legal services are generally free and for people below a certain threshold or incredibly expensive and available only the wealthy. Being able to provide legal services to my community is rewarding and working for myself gives me the luxury of deciding who I work with and how much to charge. While I may not have a fancy office I believe I make up for it by providing invaluable legal services to those in need.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I don’t think anyone would be shocked to hear that the law is still considered a male dominated field. As a woman I have been discriminated against and mistreated. Just this year I spoke with a woman about retaining my services for an eviction. At the end of the call she thanked me for my time and indicated that she would talk to her husband and get back to me. About a week later she sent me an email informing me that her husband did not feel comfortable with me and wanted to hire a male attorney to handle the case. Being disqualified for the job simply because of my gender was a hard pill to swallow.
While things have certainly gotten better and are continuing to improve day by day I look forward to the day where women are equally represented in the profession.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Lockhart Legal ?
As the owner of Lockhart Legal I handle a variety of real estate matters, both transactional and litigation. Most of my cases are landlord side eviction cases but I also handle homeowner association disputes, quiet title claims, and claims involving fraudulent transfers of property. While I consider the law to be mostly reactive I do try to provide proactive advice as often as I can and enjoy working with investors, brokers, and homeowners to help them avoid common pitfalls. In 2020 I obtained my real estate brokers license to further my practical real estate knowledge. While I don’t use my broker’s license to sell properties it has helped me better understand the real estate field and better serve my clients.
How do you think about happiness?
My goal in every case I take on is to remove as much conflict from my client’s life as I can. I enjoy helping others and resolving disputes as I feel this allows people to spend their time and energy on the things they really care about. Lawsuits can be so exhausting and emotional and it makes me happy to know that I can be comforting in this sometimes scary and confusing world.
Outside of work I love baking and traveling. I love learning about other cultures and places am currently learning Italian. My goal is to travel to 100 countries and in January 2025 I am going to Iceland to see the Aurora Borealis.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Lockhartlegalfirm.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lockhartlegalfirm
