Having played music since the age of 6, Rakiya dreamt of a career in music for as long as she can remember.

As she grew older, her dream became her passion. Her talents blossomed and she quickly became a very accomplished musician, even graduating magna cum laude from Berklee College of Music. She embarked on a career in music, went on tour, performed at major events such as Lilith Fair, and played keyboard, violin and sang background vocals for recording artists such as Grammy-winner Paula Cole.

There was only one problem: peace of mind. While she loved what she was doing, Rakiya was not comfortable making a living solely from music.

“The music profession didn't offer much financial stability,” she said. “I had a strong interest in the law and thought I could find a way to make everything work.”

Knowing that she wanted to study in a city with a vibrant music scene, Rakiya moved to Nashville and attended Vanderbilt University Law School. She continued to take up her musical interests in Nashville, and after she received her J.D., her passion followed her to Atlanta where she worked for prominent firm King & Spalding. While she enjoyed her work at the firm, she soon discovered that the lifestyle required for the job would keep her from pursuing her musical interests.

“King & Spalding was a great training ground,” Rakiya said. “However, I really wanted more time for my music and other interests. I just felt out of balance.”

Rakiya wanted a path different from the 70- to 80-hour work weeks she regularly logged at the firm. When she contacted Counsel On Call, she discovered she wasn't the only lawyer trying to juggle outside interests with the demands of the legal profession.

“It seemed that the people I met at Counsel On Call had the mentality, ‘We love legal work, but we don't want it to take over our lives.' It was very reassuring.”

Now Rakiya has time to pursue both the law and music. She now performs regularly in and out of the Atlanta area. Most important, Rakiya finally has control over her schedule without sacrifices.