Today we’d like to introduce you to Carlissa Shaw.
Hi Carlissa, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My story will always start in North Memphis. I grew up between my grandparents’ house in Hollywood, my parents’ home in Frayser, and our church in Douglass. Those three neighborhoods were my whole world, and the closeness of those communities shaped everything about who I am. When people ask how I became the woman I am today, I always say, “Memphis raised me first.”
I went to Snowden from kindergarten through eighth grade and then graduated from Central High—the Central High. From there, I headed to Middle Tennessee State University, but like so many Memphians, I found my way back home. I returned to attend the University of Memphis School of Law because I always knew my work and my purpose were rooted in this city.
In 2016, I became a mother to my daughter, Nia Grace, and she changed my entire world. She is the reason balance matters to me, the reason legacy matters to me, and the reason I push myself to show her what hard work, compassion, and community look like in real time.
For the last 13 years, I’ve worked tirelessly in my community—as an attorney, advocate, and problem-solver. My work has taken me inside courtrooms, neighborhoods, churches, and boardrooms. I’ve represented hundreds of justice-involved citizens, led blight litigation efforts for the City of Memphis, and helped push for real solutions around some of our city’s toughest challenges—from problem properties like Serenity Towers and Somerset to larger conversations about safety, equity, and revitalization.
I founded The CASE Firm so I could serve Memphis in a way that was holistic—through law, policy, and real estate. My career has become this intersection of community impact, legal advocacy, and neighborhood transformation. It’s hard work, but it feels like calling.
At the end of the day, I’m just a hometown girl who loves Memphis deeply. Everything I’ve done, every career shift, every late night, every risk—has been for the city that raised me and the future I want to leave for my daughter. My story is still being written, but it will always begin and end with Memphis.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Nothing about my journey has been easy. I’ve faced challenges at almost every stage of my career and personal life, from feeling like I didn’t belong in certain spaces, to overcompensating in others because I was a young, Black, female attorney trying to prove myself. Add to that juggling motherhood and a demanding legal practice, and stepping into complex community issues that don’t come with simple solutions.
There were also deeply personal challenges. Becoming a mother while building a career required a level of balance that I’m still figuring out. There were seasons when I felt stretched thin, when I questioned whether I was doing enough at home or in my community. There were moments of burnout, and times I had to rebuild my confidence after setbacks or tough losses. I recently heard Shonda Rhimes say that if she is excelling in one area of life, she is probably falling short in another, and I absolutely identify with that.
Entrepreneurship has brought its own set of hurdles. Learning how to run a law firm, manage staff, build systems, grow a client base, purchase and renovate an office building, and still show up every day as an attorney and advocate has been no small task. Nothing about that has been smooth, but it has absolutely been transformative.
But what I’ve learned is that struggle doesn’t mean failure. Every challenge sharpened me. Every tough season taught me something. And every obstacle reminded me why I do this work in the first place: to create solutions, uplift my community, and build a legacy my daughter can be proud of.
So no, it hasn’t been easy, but it’s been worth it. And every rough patch has shaped me into the leader, mother, and advocate I am today.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about THE CASE FIRM?
The CASE Firm is truly an extension of who I am and what I care about. We are a law, strategy, and real estate firm rooted in Memphis, focused on solving hard problems for real people and communities. On paper, we handle criminal defense, blight and code enforcement litigation, real estate and development matters, and political strategy. In practice, we are known for stepping into situations that feel stuck and finding a path forward.
Brand-wise, I am most proud that people describe us as both effective and approachable. Clients know they’re going to get smart, strategic legal work, but they also know they can talk to us like real people. Our firm culture is: high standards, high empathy, and no pretense. We don’t just want a good result on paper—we want a real-world impact for our clients, their families, and their communities.
For your readers, I want them to know that The CASE Firm is more than a traditional law office. We’re building a hub where legal services, strategy, and community impact live under one roof. We help individuals facing criminal charges, neighborhoods dealing with blighted properties, leaders navigating political and policy decisions, and property owners and investors working to do development the right way. At the heart of it all, our mission is simple: to use the law as a tool to create safer, stronger, more dignified communities—and to leave a legacy this city can be proud of.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
There’s so much I love about Memphis. First and foremost, the people. Memphis has a way of wrapping its arms around you; from neighbors, classmates, and church members who become family to the deep sense of pride we have in our city. I love our culture, our creativity, our music, our food, and the way Memphis produces some of the most resilient, brilliant people you’ll ever meet. I also love the pockets of community all over the city, North Memphis, South Memphis, Whitehaven, Orange Mound, each with its own heartbeat. And I love that Memphis is a place where if you show up and do the work, you can really make an impact.
What I dislike about Memphis is watching our potential get blocked by the same long-standing issues we’re capable of solving. We are a world-class city in so many ways, but we often settle for band-aid solutions instead of addressing root causes, whether that’s around safety, blight, education, or economic opportunity. I dislike the lack of empathy we sometimes show toward our most vulnerable residents, especially people who are justice-involved or experiencing hardship. And of course, as someone who works in neighborhoods every day, it’s hard to see communities weighed down by decades of disinvestment when I know what they could be with the right resources and leadership.
But even with the challenges, I’m deeply hopeful. Memphis is unlike any place in the world. I’ve lived other places, but nowhere feels like home in the way Memphis does. We are gritty, creative, determined, and full of possibility, and I absolutely believe in what this city can become.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @thatflylawyerchick
- Facebook: Carlissa-Shaw
