Attorney Alexander Smith-Johnson. Official headshot.
When I asked Attorney Alexander Smith-Johnson what he would say to someone who felt one mistake had defined their life, he recalled a question from a judge that had stopped him mid-argument: “What does a second chance look like?”
I kept thinking about that question after our conversation on The Last Shot Podcast. We often speak about second chances as something we believe in. Attorney Smith-Johnson pushed the conversation toward what happens next: the plan someone develops, the opportunities available to them, and whether their community gives them room to move forward.
For the Florida criminal defense attorney and founder of Smith-Johnson Law PLLC, those questions connect his professional work to his own journey.
A Mentor Who Made a Way
Growing up in Harlem, Attorney Smith-Johnson learned to recognize the stories and ambitions of the people around him. His path eventually took him to Norfolk State University, where he earned a business administration degree and developed his leadership through Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
He traced an important turning point to a fraternity oratorical competition in 2009. After hearing him speak, his mentor, The Honorable Michael Massey, Circuit Court Judge recognized qualities that could serve him well as an attorney.
That encouragement came with practical support.
Attorney Smith-Johnson wanted to pursue law school but could not afford an LSAT preparation course. His mentor offered an arrangement: intern at his practice and work off the cost.
What struck me was the specificity of that help. Someone recognized his potential, understood the obstacle, and created a way through it. The internship also exposed Attorney Smith-Johnson to the daily work of criminal law, helping him envision the career he would later pursue at Florida A&M University College of Law.
His story offers a useful question for anyone who calls themselves a mentor: What can we help someone access?
Building a Practice Around People
Attorney Smith-Johnson described his time as an assistant public defender as the experience that taught him how to apply his education under pressure. Preparing an argument in a classroom and making it before a judge or jury carry different responsibilities.
Starting his own firm brought another learning curve. He spoke candidly about the uncertainty of those early years, balancing courtroom preparation with finding clients and keeping a business running.
I appreciated his willingness to acknowledge that he was learning as he went. For young professionals considering entrepreneurship, that honesty matters. His confidence in his legal work existed alongside real concerns about providing for himself and sustaining the practice.
Throughout that discussion, he returned to the quality of his representation and communication with clients. Behind the business decisions were people trying to understand what might happen to their freedom and their future.
Making Opportunity Tangible
Our conversation about encounters with law enforcement brought those stakes closer to everyday life. Attorney Smith-Johnson shared his perspective on remaining focused on safety during a traffic stop while recognizing concerns about police treatment of Black Americans.
We also discussed what happens after someone has been through the criminal legal system. As a nonprofit leader, I wanted to know what employers and community organizations could do to make a second chance meaningful.
Attorney Smith-Johnson emphasized access to work and education. Asking someone to rebuild their life carries little weight if every available door remains closed.
He also spoke about the responsibility of the person seeking that opportunity: developing a concrete plan and taking steps toward it. Accountability and community support both have a place in that process.
That is what stayed with me. Attorney Smith-Johnson’s own journey was helped by someone willing to open a door. Today, his work places him beside people trying to find their next one.
The question for the rest of us is what we are prepared to make possible.
Listen to “An Interview With Alexander Smith-Johnson | Criminal Defense, Mentorship & Second Chances | The Last Shot Podcast” on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube. Explore the episode through the LSMG Culture Hub and learn more about Smith-Johnson Law PLLC.