From Hampton’s Waterfront To Atlanta’s Legal Front: How Jasmine A. Robinson’s HBCU Roots Shaped A Trailblazing Career

In a legal landscape where personal identity and professional life are often kept separate, Attorney Jasmine A. Robinson is forging a path where the two are inextricably linked. A rising figure in Atlanta’s legal and social circles, her journey didn’t begin in a lecture hall—but on a sunlit campus along Virginia’s coast, where a new vision of Black excellence came into focus.

Growing up on the Southside of Richmond, Robinson navigated a world with familiar boundaries. But that changed when she first visited Hampton University, her “Home by the Sea.” The striking waterfront campus and the presence of successful, stylish Black students presented a new narrative. “I saw Black folks I had never seen before,” she told OffTheYard.Net, describing a level of cultural affluence that felt both aspirational and deeply rooted. It wasn’t intimidating—it was galvanizing. “I felt like I was, like, okay, I need parts of that,” she said. “There’s obviously something out here that I haven’t gotten in Richmond.”

From that moment on, she knew she belonged.

Unlike most pre-law students who lean toward political science, Robinson chose sociology—driven by a desire to understand how people and systems function. “Sociology is the study of groups of people, families, etc.,” she explained, calling it the perfect foundation for a legal career. Initially drawn to family law, she credits her coursework with preparing her to navigate people’s lives with nuance and compassion.

Her education extended far beyond academics. As senior class president and student leader, she absorbed Hampton’s culture of etiquette and excellence. From knowing which fork to use at formal dinners to understanding that being early is being on time, she says these lessons still serve her. “I really feel like Hampton set us up for success in how we present ourselves,” she said. Years later, she still receives compliments on her poise and professionalism—qualities she attributes to that foundation.

A defining piece of her Hampton experience was joining Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Gamma Theta chapter. Her connection to AKA began in high school, when she received a scholarship from the sorority. Many of her teachers were also members. “They were planting so many seeds,” she recalled. Once in college, the sorority became her support system—challenging and uplifting her. “I felt like AKA required me to step it up a bit, to do more.”

The values of purpose, professionalism, and community became the bedrock of her legal journey. After earning her law degree, she established a solo practice in Atlanta and focused on serving a community close to her heart: the Black LGBTQ+ community, of which she’s proudly a part.

Her most significant legal milestone? Saving the Atlanta Black Pride Weekend trademark.

When the organization faced a legal challenge, Robinson—then a solo practitioner—took on a large law firm and won. The case not only protected the organization’s legal rights but also elevated Robinson’s profile. Today, she serves as general counsel for Atlanta Black Pride Weekend.

To her, the win was about more than legal rights. It was about preserving safe spaces. “The struggles and the problems and our goals and our perspectives are different,” she said, speaking to the gaps mainstream Pride events often leave unaddressed. In her practice, her identity isn’t hidden—it’s an asset. “You don’t always hear about lawyers so confident in their sexuality,” she said. But by being authentically herself, she creates space where clients feel seen.

“Provision happens when you are truly chasing your purpose,” she says. For Attorney Jasmine A. Robinson, that purpose is crystal clear—and it’s opening doors for others, too.