We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Deidra Moore a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Deidra, appreciate you joining us today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

I’d like to think I’ve taken numerous risks in my life to date. A risk I’ve taken was back in 1996, when I decided to quit my full-time job as a commercial real estate paralegal — with TIAA-CREF, a Manhattan based company – after having been employed with TIAA-CREF for nine years. The risk was that I quit the job at a time when I was a single mother to my daughter. I would quit the job to attend law school full time. While needing to meet the demands of being a single mom, i.e., a mortgage, maintenance, daughter’s tuition and a host of other financial obligations, and not having the emotional and financial support from others, I was able to secure three part-time jobs. I traversed mid-town Manhattan, I would attend school in Queens County, and return home in Bronx County where I resided with my daughter.

Although I cried many nights as I pushed through the daunting process of law school, I managed to complete law school in the requisite three year period. I graduated in 1999, got my first job as a Public Defender, then nearly five years later, I established The Law offices of Deidra R. Moore, now a Professional Corporation, where I am the CEO. I have no regrets for the decisions I’ve made in my life – and I’ve garnered so much from the sacrifices made.

Today, more than 20 years later, I have been practicing law and doing what I enjoy and what I am passionate about – which is wanting to be a part of the solution – and in my professional career, this entails being presented with a problem on behalf of clients, and work on being a part of the solution, where possible. Meaning I enjoy researching, analyzing, synthesizing, asking questions (or thinking critically) and presenting the information in the best interests of my client, or others.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

In 1996, as a single mom, to one child, and after nine years of full-time employment with TIAA-CREF, a Manhattan based company, Deidra quit her job as a commercial real estate paralegal to attend the City University of New York School of Law (“CUNY School of Law”).

It would be three years later, in 1999, that Deidra successfully completes the demands of law school, and start her legal career as a Public Defender with the Legal Aid Society. As a Public Defender, she represented people of the indigent population – people who, for whatever reason, could not afford legal representation.

In 2004, nearly five years later, Deidra departed the Legal Aid Society and entered private practice; as a sole proprietor, having established The Law Offices of Deidra R. Moore.

In 2006 she established and became the CEO of The Law Offices of Deidra R. Moore, P.C. Deidra advises and litigates on all aspects of matrimonial law, guardianship matters, trusts and estates law, elder law and wrongful death cases.

It would be in June, 2022, after 20 years of practicing law, that Deidra’s career pivoted to where she became a published Author. In 2022 she authored her first book, From Me, To You: The Power of Storytelling and its Inherent Generational Wealth! (An African American Story – but with multi-cultural benefits.)

Having written this book, and as an African American mother, wife, advocate for social change – Deidra, by using her voice, identity, purpose and lived experiences – finds herself on a mission to educate as many of our youth about the value of investing in themselves and in learning about their history.

Deidra believes that while From Me, To You touches on the who, what, when, where, how and why of the complex topic of slavery – it is truly a book about identity and self-worth! There is inspiration and empowerment in the stories that are to be told about the enslaved Africans and their descendants, and Deidra believes, these stories should be told regularly and accurately.

What sets me apart from others – well, I like to think I’m unapologetically imperfect. I want to see everyone win – develop and grow personally and professionally; but above all if there is a problem to be solved, personally or professionally, I strive to be a part of the solution, every time.

What I am most proud of – is my ability to grow and excel from any situation I’m faced with; realizing everything happens for a reason – and it’s up to me to be patient and try to excel and learn from any job I am doing at the moment.

My brand surrounds helping people, both young and old, to: “Find Your V.I.P. Status (meaning your voice, identity and purpose); and empowering one to not be afraid to use it for the good of themselves and others.”

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

What has helped me to build my law practice – having established a reputation for being a zealous advocate — would be simply treating people the way that you (yourself) would want to be treated. Remembering the Golden Rule: Do unto others that which you’ll have done unto you – or some variation of that rule, which to me is a Platinum Rule.

Being honest in my informing client’s as to the worth of their case – even if not favorable.

Have you ever had to pivot?

After 20 years of being a litigator, I find myself having pivoted to now being a published author. Although I maintain my law practice, marketing my book is seemingly a whole other business. Having taken risks most of my live, pivoting to becoming an author came with much familiarity; but like I say to others “Be afraid, but do it!”

Contact Info:

• Website: www.deidramoore.com
• Instagram: DMoore2253
• Facebook: DMJ-Voice, Identity and Purpose
• Linkedin: Deidra Moore-Janvier
• Twitter: @DeidraMoore2253

Image Credits
All the images are free to be used by CANVAS and its team. I am the owner of the all.