Our Team

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 ATTORNEY LAQUITA STOKES
Founding Member & Rule 31 Listed Mediator

Laquita R. Stokes is licensed to practice law in the State ofTennessee and primarily specializes in the areas of family law: including divorce, child support, visitation, custody, and adoption cases, as well as, entertainment law, business law and personal injury.  In 2013, she was the lead attorney on a child support case before the Tennessee Appellate Court that changed the law regarding disestablishing a child's paternity.

Attorney Stokes is a Memphis native and graduate of Vanderbilt University College of Arts & Sciences and the University of Kentucky College of Law.  She is the immediate past President of the Ben F. Jones Chapter of the National Bar Association and under her leadership, the organization raised over half a million dollars, reached its highest active membership, vetted over 60 candidates for the 2022 Shelby County Elections, hosted the NBA’s 97th Annual Convention, and the Ben F. Jones was named the “2022 Outstanding Affiliate Chapter of the Year” by the National Bar Association.  She has served on the board of the Memphis Bar Association and Association for Women Attorneys.  She currently serves on the boards of the Memphis Leadership Foundation, On-Location Memphis, Shelby County Law Library Board, and Charis Acres, a retirement home in Memphis.

She has received numerous awards as indicated below.  

She is also the Co-Owner of “Sapphire & Emerald” an online women’s clothing store, an active member of the Memphis Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and a faithful member of Cornerstone Church of Christ where her father is senior pastor.  She is the daughter of Jimmy L. Stokes Sr. and the late Peggie A. Stokes.  She has two (2) brothers: Pastor Jimmy Stokes, II & Corby Stokes; a sister-in-law, Akilah; one niece, Xaria, and one nephew Corby, II.

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​EDUCATION

• The University of Kentucky David Rosenberg College of Law | Lexington, KY
• Vanderbilt University College of Arts & Sciences | Nashville, TN
• Whitehaven High School | Memphis, TN

HONORS & AWARDS

• 2024 | Memphis Bar Foundation Fellow
• 2023 | A.A. Latting Award for Community Service, Presented by the Ben F. Jones Chapter of the National Bar Association
• 2023 | Curtis Given's Power 30 Honoree
• 2022 | President of the National Bar Association's “ Outstanding Affiliate Chapter of the Year” (Ben F. Jones Chapter of the NBA)
• 2022 | April “Front Line Woman Lawyer” recognition by the National Bar Association's Women Lawyers Division
• 2022 | National Bar Association, President's Award Recipient
• 2022 | National Bar Association, Nation's Best Advocates 40 under 40 Award (Class of 2022)
• 2022 | National Bar Association | Women Lawyers Division Achievement Award for "Outstanding Woman in a Solo/Small Firm"
• 2019 | “Outstanding Citizen” Honoree, Memphis 40 Under 40 Urban Elite Awards
• 2018 | “Woman with an Entrepreneurial Spirit” Honoree Memphis Dress for Success Chapter
• 2017 | “Best Overall Attorney” & “Best Family Law/Divorce Attorney” Tri-State Defender’s Best in Black Awards
• 2017 | “Role Model of the Year” & law firm as “Industry Service of the Year” Nominee, Southern Entertainment Awards,
• 2014, 2016, 2017, 2019 | Tri-State Defender’s Best in Black Awards Top 3 Finalist
• 2014-2015 | Featured Attorney on Paternity Test Tuesday, K97.1 FM

AFFILIATIONS & LEADERSHIP POSITIONS

• Ben F. Jones Chapter of the National Bar Association | 2022 Chapter President &  2022 National Convention Co-Chair; Board Member 2019-Present
• Tennessee Bar Association | 2023 TBA (TBALL) Law & Leadership Class
• ADR Inns of Court
• Board Member
  • Memphis Leadership Foundation | 2023
  • Memphis Bar Association | 2017-2022
  • Association for Women Attorneys | 2017
  • Shelby County Government Law Library Commission | 2015 - present, Appointed by Chancellor Walter Evans
  • On Location: MEMPHIS | 2014 to present
  • Charis Acres & Grace Place Retirement Home | 2012 to present

SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS

• Panelist: Continuing Legal Education |  Tennessee Lawyers Association for Women Conference: 2023 Empowerment Conference | Dealing with Difficult Personalities, September 15, 2023
• Speaker: Continuing Legal Education | Tennessee Bar Association: Intersections of Criminal & Family Law, August 17, 2023
• Panelist: Continuing Legal Education |  Roe vs. Wade: The Murky Waters of a New Era, August 30, 2022
• Panelist: Continuing Legal Education | Do’s & Don’t at Mediation (Family Law), May 19, 2022
• Panelist: Continuing Legal Education | WOMCON - Be Your Own Boss: (Non) Traditional Avenues to Legal Entrepreneurship October 28, 2021
• Speaker: Continuing Legal Education | Rookie Mistakes in Mediation (Family Law), February 12, 2021
• Speaker: Continuing Legal Education | Uncontested Divorces Summarized (Family Law), November 2019
• Speaker: Continuing Legal Education (CLE) Parenting Plans, March 22, 2016