Crown Jewelle

Up and Comers

by Drew Ermenc

May 2, 2008

Dedication is a trait Jewelle Johnson knows all too well. After all, this Youngstown, Ohio, native has known she was going to be a lawyer since the sixth grade. "I just woke up one morning and decided I wanted to be an attorney," she recalls. "My religion teacher called my mom and asked if she had any money." Her mother said, "No. Why?" Johnson's teacher's response: "Because [she] wants to be an attorney, and she needs to get some."

Nearly 14 years later, Johnson continued toward that goal by graduating from Miami University (Ohio) and entering Duke University Law School in Durham, N.C. After finding in her second year that she liked her employment discrimination courses, Johnson spent a summer as an intern at Duke Power Co., working – and enjoying – the employment projects she was given.

Johnson was hooked on labor law. "I thought it was interesting," she says. "It's about people, and it's so multifaceted. It's really fascinating how the field has progressed over time." After graduating in 1997, she moved to Atlanta and took a job with a "small employment boutique" before joining labor law firm Fisher & Phillips. Advancing to partner – the first woman of color to earn a partnership in the Atlanta office – Johnson has made a name specializing in employment litigation defense and helps corporate clients understand labor law through training and management. "You teach employers about perception because perception is everything," she says. "Some of [what I do] is that basic. I also inform employers about changes in the law and let them know about what their rights are as employers."

Johnson helps her clients avoid situations that could put them at risk, like instances in which sexual harassment might be an issue. "It's like the Anita Hill case [in 1991]," she says. "People are still doing that kind of thing. That is still one of the more frequent kinds of cases that I see come across my desk. I try to go in and talk to employers about how [they can] dispel the perception that [they are] treating people differently." She asks of her clients, "How do you create policy and procedures and educate employees about these policies and procedures in a way that they feel secure about going through the company to complain and hopefully correct the inappropriate behavior they may experience?"

"Kids can't always play well in the sandbox," she adds. "It's human nature. If those situations arise, you want to be able to correct them at the most common denominator: in the workplace, before a lawsuit is filed. You want to retain your employees. You pay a lot of money to train them. It's basic dollars and cents, and of course, it's the right thing to do." Johnson's dedication has made her a star in her field. In 2006, Johnson was selected as one of "Georgia's Rising Star Super Lawyers" by Law & Politics and Atlanta magazines, and was one of only 14 young lawyers selected as "On the Rise" by the Fulton County Daily Report.

But what's more telling about Johnson's character is her dedication to her community. She has a long list of professional and civic commitments. She serves on the State Bar of Georgia Women and Minorities in the Profession Committee and on the Georgia Committee on Access & Fairness in the Courts. She just finished her 2007 term as president of the Georgia Association of Black Women Attorneys. She is also a member and speaker for the Atlanta Business League, and she was recently elected as secretary of the board of directors for the Metropolitan Boys & Girls Club. Asked how many civic groups she belongs to, Johnson laughs and replies, "I'm not entirely sure."

A modest Johnson may not be counting her commitments, but her peers are counting on her – and taking notice. Avarita Hanson, executive director of the Chief Justice's Commission on Professionalism, knows Johnson professionally and personally, both as a fellow church member and as a fellow member of the GABWA. "I have found her to be a caring and competent and compassionate leader who has not been afraid to take on a leadership role. I've seen her listen to a lot of advice, and really over the past couple of years, I've seen her grow in the capacity to lead, to listen and be an effective leader."

"I was encouraged by my mother to always give back to my community," Johnson says. "Partially, our purpose in life is to make a difference in the world with a positive impact on others. I've always been involved in both civic and community service activities. It keeps you grounded; it keeps you humble. No one travels this journey alone," she adds. "And there's the old adage: ‘To whom much is given, much is required.' If www.atlantawomanmag.com Atlanta Woman | 51 you have been blessed, as I feel I have been, you are obligated to spread those blessings to others. And if you give your time and your talent, it's very important. If everybody does that, I think the world will be a better place."

Johnson loves to talk about GABWA, speaking with the passion and zeal that has made her a popular leader in local civic organizations. "GABWA is very important because everybody needs mentorship," she says. "In a lot of law firms, women of color are still a small minority. It provides mentorship with people outside your firm, and it provides networking and educational opportunities."

According to Johnson, GABWA gave out $30,000 in scholarships to law students in 2007. She adds, "GABWA is an opportunity to give back, and there's something for everybody.

Hanson has watched the organization thrive under Johnson's leadership. "They always have energetic new ideas and are touching lives in a very significant way," she says. "I know she has been instrumental
in growing not only the organization, but the scholarships for the foundation that supports other community service activities. "It's about commitment," Hanson says. "It's the right thing to do. It's in her heart. It's in her spirit. She's part of the community of African-American lawyers who feel that giving back is part of our responsibility and we're just going to do it. She's not only done it, she's done it exceedingly well. She's going from good to great, and her caring is very genuine." Hanson adds with excitement, "Her light is truly shining now."