We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful L.A. Williams, Esq.. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with L.A. below.
L.A., appreciate you joining us today. Let’s jump to the end – what do you want to be remembered for?
When I think about my legacy, I hope it reflects one of love, kindness, resilience, and empowerment- a life where I remained authentic to my true self, leaned on my faith, and inspired others to do the same. A life that shows how much beauty can come from keeping God first and pursuing your dreams boldly. Legal and Abroad® has evolved in numerous ways, just as I have. When I started my business, it was just a travel blog for an attorney who loved to see the world and inspire others to do the same. Grab your bag, and let’s go! However, it grew more significant over time, leading to so many things greater than I could ever have imagined. Those changes led to something so beautiful, and allowed me to grow, learn, and redefine what I believed was possible for my brand and life. For that, I will always be grateful to God.
I want my legacy to remind people from all walks of life that it is okay to take up space in the world, to own who you are, and to leave your unique mark. Dream big without limits, be authentic, and live audaciously. Whether traveling the world, starting a business, or simply unapologetically showing up as your best self daily, I want people to know their dreams are worth pursuing. Life is too short to play small, so live it fully and trust you can do much more than you think. Resilience is beyond surviving hard times; it is about rising, taking those moments, and using them to build something incredible. Evolving is a part of life. Focus on progress and not perfection. Show up consistently, stay faithful to your goals, and live a life filled with alignment, purpose, and love.
Kindness is at the center of everything for me. Growing up, my Grandmother told me it costs nothing to be kind and that it does not hurt to say hello. I will always be kind. It is how I show up with my family and in relationships, approach my work, and, most importantly, how I want to be remembered by others. More than anything, I want my son to carry that forward, knowing that being kind is not just about how you treat others but also how you treat yourself. I hope my son sees how much I poured into him and how I worked hard to build a life filled with love, adventure, and purpose for us. I want him to know it is possible to be strong and soft, ambitious and grounded, driven and kind. I want him to have the courage to go after his goals with a full heart and to live a life filled with love, passion, and purpose. Life is a journey full of peaks and pits, but with kindness, drive, and faith, you can create something beautiful for yourself, the people you love, and the world around you. I hope my son remembers the moments we spent traveling the world together, the lessons about pursuing his dreams, and the importance of remaining authentic to himself.
At the end of the day, when people think of me, I hope they say, “She always remained authentic, she was kind and cared deeply for others, and lived her life intentionally, building it brick by brick.” I want them to remember me as someone who accomplished everything she set out to do, loved deeply, and left the world a little bit brighter than I found it. (I would not mind if they included my sense of humor as well lol). Whether through Legal and Abroad® or how I have chosen to live my life, I want to leave behind a story that reminds people to be bold and present, pursue and align with what sets their souls on fire, and create a life they are proud of. That is the legacy I hope that I am remembered for.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
Hi, I’m L.A. Williams, Esq., the founder of Legal and Abroad®, a business focused on empowering entrepreneurs to protect their dreams and build something lasting. At first, Legal and Abroad® was just a travel blog to share my adventures as an attorney exploring the world. I wanted to show people that you could balance a successful career with a life filled with adventure and authenticity. But as I traveled the world and connected with entrepreneurs from all walks of life, I started to see a different perspective and bigger picture. Many people I met were doing amazing things but needed the tools or knowledge to protect their brand, work, and ideas. It became clear that I could do more than just share my journey; I could help others build and protect theirs.
Initially, I began as an attorney who would help others with contracts or navigating any legal issues with their business. People would request that I review their documents, which I enjoyed. As I continued on this path, I discovered my passion for working with minority and women-owned businesses. They had incredible ideas and endless creativity but often struggled to find the resources and proper support they needed to protect their brands. That is where I knew I could make a difference. That realization transformed Legal and Abroad® from just a travel blog into a business that also focused on trademark and contract services. I help my clients secure their brands, navigate the complexities of contracts, and feel confident about the legal foundation of their businesses.
Most importantly, I aim to make the legal side of things approachable and empowering. To be transparent, legal jargon can be intimidating and complicated, and it is easy to feel overwhelmed navigating it. My job is to break it down, simplify it, and be the kind of partner who has your back every step of the way.
What sets me apart is the personal touch I bring to everything I do. I have been in my client’s shoes, so I understand and empathize with what it is like to build something from scratch, face setbacks, and wonder if you are on the right path. That is why I take the time to really get to know my clients, their stories, their goals, and what drives them. I do not believe in one-size-fits-all solutions because every business, like every person, is unique. My approach is about creating legal solutions that truly align with their vision and set them up for success.
I am most proud of the trust my clients place in me. Nothing is more rewarding than seeing someone take the next big step in their business, knowing I played even a tiny part in helping them feel secure and prepared. I am also proud of the life I have built that allows me to balance my family, work, and passion for travel. My son and I explore the world together, and I hope the life I am building shows him the power of resilience, kindness, and bold dreams.
For anyone reading this, I want you to know that Legal and Abroad® is more than just a legal business. It reflects my journey, my faith, and my belief in the power of people to create something extraordinary when they have the proper support. Whether you are just starting out or growing something incredible, I am here to help you protect what you have built and step into your potential.
What truly matters to me is that I want my story to reflect and remind others to dream big, be disciplined, take risks, and trust the journey, even when things do not make sense or go as planned. I have learned that resilience can lead to empowerment, and overcoming challenges can be a stepping stone to something phenomenal. Always keep God first, remain kind, and practice gratitude. That is the heart of Legal and Abroad® and the heart of everything I do.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
One of the biggest lessons I have had to unlearn is the need for perfection and the belief that things have to happen on my timetable. I was a type-A timeline person who always tried to outdo myself. For a long time, I felt I had to be perfect, push harder, achieve more, and never let anything slip. It was depleting me. Life quickly taught me that my plans and timeline do not always align with God’s, and honestly, that has been the best thing for me. His timing has always been better, even when it didn’t make sense at that moment. I had to learn that perfection is not the goal and that God’s plans are so much bigger and better than anything I could have come up with.
I have had my share of struggles. I had my son during my senior year of college, and while it was one of the most challenging times of my life, I still graduated with high honors. I pushed through law school, even finishing a semester early, while navigating the challenges of being a young mom. Even with those accomplishments, life still threw me curveballs. This included setbacks in my career, personal disappointments, or challenges with growing my business. I had so many moments where it felt like nothing was working out, and I wondered if all the hard work was even worth it. I honestly wanted to give up.
Here is a key that I learned: just because something is not happening right now does not mean it will not happen. Delay does not mean denial. God knew what I did not know and could see beyond what I could see. I was not ready yet, and it simply was not my time. If I had gotten the things I prayed for when I wanted them, I probably would have fumbled them because I was not in a suitable space to handle them. I needed to grow, heal, be disciplined, and learn to believe I was worthy of the blessings I asked for. The doors started opening once I was ready and in a better space mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Opportunities and blessings came flooding in, and I was finally prepared to receive and handle them with the care and intention they deserved. This is why I am so intentional about being in alignment, not comparing myself to others, and not rushing my timeline. I do not desire what someone else has because what is for me will never miss me, and no one can take away what God has for me.
Unlearning perfection also taught me how important it is to care for myself along the way. There were so many times when I was running on empty, trying to do everything and be everything for everyone. I thought that everything would work itself out if I just worked harder. That mindset only left me exhausted and overwhelmed. Eventually, I realized that I could not pour into myself, my son, or my business if I did not prioritize my mental health and protect my peace. I worked smarter, not harder while operating in and embracing my femininity. This was necessary and a game-changer in my life. I implemented boundaries, allowing myself to rest, reset, and trust that everything would come together when the time was right.
And if I can share anything from my story, it is this gem: My Daddy always told me to never accept the first no when it comes to accomplishing my goals and pursuing my dreams. Do not let a “no” or a hard season stop you. “No” does not mean the end of the road. I have received more “no’s” than “yes’s” on this journey. I had to keep pushing, trusting that God had a more incredible “yes” waiting for me. One yes from God will literally change the whole dynamic of your life. Persistence taught me resilience. Every delay and rejection was simply redirection, preparing me for something greater, even if I could not see it then. The process was not always fun, but the outcome has been totally worth it.
Reflecting on my journey, I am so grateful for the delays, the detours, the “no’s,” and even the closed doors. This all prepared me for this season of my life and the woman I am today. Life is good, and I am so grateful, even when I do not know what is coming next.
Have you ever had to pivot?
On January 1, 2020, I officially launched Legal and Abroad® initially as a law, travel, and lifestyle blog—just a fun way to document my life experiences as a lawyer exploring the world, sharing personal and captivating stories, and connecting with others who also wanted to balance work with adventure. It was a passion project that made me feel alive and productive. I desired to show others, especially women, that it is possible to overcome obstacles, be successful, and still have room to pursue your passions. You can indeed have it all. It was a fascinating time because I had many plans, trips, and things to look forward to, personally and professionally. However, the pandemic happened two months later, and the world shut down. I learned my first lesson in entrepreneurship: How to pivot when things do not go as planned and you have no control over it.
At the time, it was equally frustrating and heartbreaking that things were not falling into place as planned or how quickly I wanted them to. However, those moments were necessary for my personal and professional growth. During this time, I was pushed to focus on what I wanted Legal and Abroad® to focus on, get clear on my purpose, and be aligned with what God wanted me to do with my business. In hindsight, I am so grateful for the pivot that included peaks and pits, delays, and roadblocks as I built my brand. I learned those moments were also a blessing in disguise. I was able to shape Legal and Abroad® into something authentic that focuses on what I truly care about.
As I began traveling again, I kept meeting people with these fantastic ideas who needed help navigating the legal side of things, predominantly minority and women-owned businesses. They had so much creativity and drive but needed the tools to secure what they were building. I saw how hard they worked and how much they needed someone to have their back, especially with all the legal hoops they had to jump through to protect their brands. That is when I knew I wanted Legal and Abroad® to be more than just a blog; I wanted it to be a natural resource to help these entrepreneurs turn their dreams into something lasting.
That pivot taught me that change isn’t something to be afraid of. Sometimes, pivoting is necessary to evolve into the next version of yourself. It is not just about finding a new direction; it is about being open to the possibilities that come with it. Looking back, I would not change a thing. That moment of stepping out in faith gave me a business and a purpose that I am proud of every day. I realize I can still keep the heart of what Legal and Abroad® is about: exploration, connection, and growth. Only now, instead of just telling my story, I am helping others protect and grow theirs.
I am grateful for this journey because my resiliency has given my business a strong foundation for helping others succeed and bringing their visions to life. Despite the challenges, I am so blessed that everything worked itself out and came together just as intended. Today, Legal and Abroad® is not just a business; it reflects everything I have learned about resilience, pivoting, and trusting the process.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.legalandabroad.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/legalandabroad
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/legalandabroad
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBHtmwG6_vohHZskAdVzp6g
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@legalandabroad?lang=en
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