Top Franchise Legal Players: Earsa Jackson, Attorney with Clark Hill Law
As a second-year law student, Earsa Jackson knew she wanted more than to sit in a big leather chair for the rest of her career. So, when she was introduced to franchising, she seized the opportunity.
Earsa Jackson’s early introduction into the franchise landscape has given her perspective. Her long career in law paired with in-depth knowledge of the franchise industry is a combination with endless potential.
Jackson, now no longer the mentee, is sharing some valuable advice to the prospective franchisee: “I think it's imperative for them to know about the support system," she said. "The value of going into a franchise is that there is a pathway, and there are processes in place. I think that it's paramount that they understand the support structure, because that's going to be the key to whether they'll have a successful business.”
Her particular draw to the franchise industry and how it combines nicely with her career in law can all be traced to her law firm, Clark Hill.
“I had an opportunity to clerk with Strasburger & Price, which then combined with Clark Hill to form my current firm, but I couldn't sit at the same place for 23 years,” she said. “When the firm recruited me my second year of law school, that was my first introduction to franchising. My mentor was handling franchise matters, and I tagged along with her whenever I could. I found franchise law very fascinating ... I just got deeper and deeper into franchising as the time went on. I love the franchise model.”
Adding to her love of the franchise industry, Jackson explained that, for her, it’s two things: getting to work on the business side of things where “they intersect with the legal,” and working within a model where “folks can achieve that American dream, without necessarily creating everything from scratch.”
Watch the full interview with Jackson above, or click here to watch it on YouTube.