We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Rachel Robinson a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Rachel, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. How did you come up with the idea for your business?
I created my victim rights law firm, The Ray of Justice Legal Services and Holistic Care, in April 2022 after being a prosecutor for four years. It was a natural progression for me because of my understanding of the Victim Rights Act, my knowledge of the experience of crime victims in the court system, and a belief that true justice includes holistic wellness.
I decided to become an attorney at the age of 7 when my uncle, a prominent attorney in Jamaica, described his role “to be a voice for those who don’t have one.” So, I overcame many obstacles to accomplish that goal. Those obstacles included enduring abuse and battling with addiction and housing insecurity.
I climbed my way out and into a top tier law school, Washington University in St. Louis School of Law. I then began my career as a Deputy District Attorney, aka prosecutor, in Denver, CO. During that time, I learned how difficult it is for crime victims to navigate the court system while also trying to heal from the trauma of crime. I identified with victims due to my own history of victimization. I wanted to be able to do more for them.
So, I created The Ray of Justice to empower, educate, and advocate for crime victims while also opening the door to their healing. The Healing Portal introduces clients to various healing modalities via monthly prerecorded interviews with professional wellness providers.
Rachel, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I am a multi-lingual, immigrant, woman of color. My mother is from Belize, my father was born in England, and I was born in Jamaica. My father moved us to Ohio when I was a toddler. I have always been gifted in academics, athletics, performing arts, and literature.
Nevertheless, due to a lack of proper support and protection, I was bullied out of high school and forced to find my own way. My dream of becoming an attorney was all that kept me going.
I thought I would be an international lawyer due to my international background. In law school, I studied abroad in Paris and completed international internships in Panama and at the Securities and Exchange Commission Office of International Affairs. However, it was when I walked into the court house for my internship with the St. Louis Circuit Attorney, I got “bit by the bug” and Idecided I would become a prosecutor. So that’s what I did, straight out of law school. And that led to my current practice in Victim Rights Law.
The problem that I solve is that I give a voice to victims in an opaque, often unfair system that tends to ignore them. I go even further by providing opportunities for them to add tools to their resiliency tool belt through the monthly Healing Sessions.
Can you share one of your favorite marketing or sales stories?
After my business really took off in fall 2022, I realized that I needed to learn how to run a business. I needed to ensure that I had the sustainable infrastructure in place to properly support and serve survivors. So I enrolled in an entrepreneur bootcamp taught by Rocky Mountain Microfinance Institute.
One of the earlier sections in the bootcamp taught us about marketing. It was defined as activities that increase brand awareness and create relationship with the public. It was at that moment that I realized that my podcast appearances, website, and the strategic partnerships I had formed with community organizations were, indeed, forms of marketing!
I thought I was just getting the word out, which I was. But I now knew what to call it and how to systematize those efforts and budget for it.
Relatedly, check out my TikTok account @TheRayOfJustice
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
I have pivoted Ray of Justice, in a way. I paused operations in order to complete that entrepreneur bootcamp with Rocky Mountain Microfinance Institute. Before I started the bootcamp, the law firm had my name in it: The Law Office of RWRobinson. However, one of the first things I learned was that this name did not illustrate what the law firm does. Thus, The Ray of Justice Legal Services and Holistic Care was appointed the new name and RWRobinson was reborn The Ray of Justice in July 2023.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.TheRayOfJustice.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/RachelJD614
- Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@rwresquire
- Other: https://www.TikTok.com/@TheRayOfJustice
Image Credits
1st photo Angela Whited. 2nd photo www.TikTok.com/@TheRayOfJustice.