TiShaunda McPherson is a seasoned employment and education attorney, with over 20 years of experience addressing institutional, regional and systemic discriminatory practices, with specialized expertise in Title VI, Title VII, Title IX, the ADA and Section 504. A dedicated advocate for individuals facing or impacted by civil rights violations, TiShaunda is renowned for her ability to achieve successful results for her clients and providing visionary leadership in the areas of diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice. 

TiShaunda has had an extraordinary professional career allowing her to bring unique and transformative insight into each case with compassion. Beginning as an associate at international law firms, serving as law clerk to the Honorable Joseph A. Greenaway, Jr., creating and overseeing institutional offices of equity as a senior executive, working as in-house employment counsel, and acting as Senior Civil Rights Attorney at the U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, she has an unparalleled background leading to substantial achievement in the legal field and beyond. As such, her clients have referred to her as their “legal gem.” 

After years of using her legal and academic prowess for various employers, TiShaunda decided to establish JEM Law Advocates, P.C. to expand her reach and protect the rights of the continuously overlooked middle – those unable to retain high-priced law firms, but also ineligible for legal aid services. When developing the business plan and structure for the law firm, she considered a plethora of names. As she reflected on the “why” for creating her own practice, she could not ignore the fiercest women who impacted her life – her great-grandmothers, grandmothers, and mother. These women instilled values of compassion, advocacy, and celebrating what makes each person unique. To honor of these women, TiShaunda selected the middle initial from each of their names – “J” for Joy and Joyce, and “M” for Mae – to bookend the firm name. The “E” – representing the values that bind these women together – is reflected in a unique and rare gemstone – the emerald. 

The emerald was chosen specifically because of its rich and treasured history, and because it is often seen as a symbol of loyalty, wisdom, hope, courage, prosperity, and protection. Though rarer than diamonds, emeralds almost always have internal fractures and impurities that give each its distinctive character. These fractures and impurities are also known as the stone’s garden. Like the garden of an emerald, TiShaunda’s foremothers are unique and rare. As the embodiment of their legacy, TiShaunda considers herself, and thus this firm, as being birthed from their garden.