Get to know JABA

Our mission

The purpose of JABA is to advance the professional interests of Jamaican-American attorneys. Our mission is to coordinate the development of educational, mentoring, and career opportunities for our members, nobly serve the Jamaican community and assist, however we can, our beloved homeland, Jamaica.

Our vision

We want to see our brothers and sisters achieving their potentials. To do so, we make efforts to bring attention to the problems facing our community, present opportunities for education and mentoring, and assist our members in their career path.

Empowering Lawyers

Supporting Jamaican-Americans in their pursuit of legal careers.

Legal Mentorship Program

Connecting aspiring Jamaican-American attorneys with experienced mentors.

Networking Events

Fostering community among Jamaican-American legal professionals and students.

Scholarship Initiative

Providing financial support for Jamaican-American law students, annually.

Career Workshops

Offering skills training for aspiring attorneys every year.

JABA Officers

The officers of the Jamaican-American Bar Association are elected each year at our General Body Election.

JABA members are encouraged to put forward nominations, run for office positions, and vote for officers of their choice that will lead JABA into greater endeavors.

Meet our current officers!

Walwin Lee “Wali” Taylor, Esq.

VICE-President

Shawna-kay Johnson, Esq.

Secretary

Don D. G. James, Esq.

Treasurer

Tamar Hamilton, Esq.

President

About Our President

Attorney Tamar Hamilton is a passionate advocate, dedicated legal professional, and a woman on a mission to serve. She is the founder of the Law Office of Tamar N. Hamilton, P.A. and currently serves as the President of the Jamaican American Bar Association, where she works to uplift and support the legal community.

With extensive experience in real estate transactions, foreclosure defense, quiet title actions, and probate, Attorney Hamilton has built a reputation for fiercely protecting the rights of her clients.

Beyond the courtroom, she is driven by a deeper calling—to help others rise above their struggles and walk boldly into their destiny. Her own journey, shaped by perseverance and the kindness of strangers, fuels her commitment to empowering individuals and families to overcome obstacles and achieve their dreams.

A devoted wife and mother of two, she understands the power of resilience and faith. She stands as a testament that challenges do not define us—they refine us. Whether advocating for justice, leading in the legal field, or mentoring the next generation, Attorney Tamar Hamilton is unwavering in her purpose: to serve, uplift, and inspire.

Walwin Lee “Wali” Taylor is a dedicated advocate for justice and a respected member of the legal community. As Vice President of the Jamaican American Bar Association "JABA," Wali brings a wealth of experience in litigation, specializing in employment and personal injury law. Wali also currently serves as Vice President of Florida National Employment Lawyers Association.

A graduate of Florida Atlantic University and St. Thomas University College of Law, Wali has built a career championing the rights of the underserved. His background as a former Assistant Public Defender for the 17th Judicial Circuit has given him a unique insight into the realities of life in the local community and the courtroom.

Beyond his legal practice, Wali remains deeply committed to mentorship and diversity in the legal profession. His leadership within JABA is geared toward empowering the next generation of attorneys, while advocating for fairness and equality in the legal system.

As an avid believer in Human Rights and Justice, Shawnna-Kay Johnson from the tender age of 9 was determined to be a lawyer. As a result, from an early age she began working towards her goal.

She attended the Holy Childhood High School in Kingston, Jamaica where she sat and passed 11 Caribbean Examination Council Subjects to make her eligible for a place in a law program of her choice. Shawnna- Kay later acquired an LLB with honors from the University of London.

In 2017 she enrolled in the Norman Manley Law School in Jamaica, where she sat and passed her Bar Examination. She was later called to the Jamaican Bar in 2019. She remains a practicing attorney in Jamaica while she pursued a Masters in International Law with a specialization in U.S & Transnational Law for foreign lawyers and a Juris Doctorate at the University of Miami.

An Attorney at law with office in Coral Gables, Florida for twenty five (25) years, Don D. G. James, Esquire is the founder and current Treasurer of the Jamaican-American Bar Association. Mr. James was born in St. Catherine, Jamaica and graduated from St. Jago High School. After migrating to Florida in 1985, Mr. James entered the University of South Florida in 1991 and graduated in 1993 with a Bachelor of Arts degree, as a Honors History Major, winning commendation for Superior academic achievement. Recruited by SunTrust Bank for Management training and elected Vice-President of Tampa Bay Urban Bankers Association, he then won a Scholarship to University of Miami, School of Law.

Commencing Law School in 1995, Don James graduated in 1997 and passed the Florida Bar exam two months later, after being honored in Law School with a Dean’s Fellowship in Criminal Procedure and the Award for Excellence in Banking Law. Mr. James also accomplished this, while working as Senior Credit Analyst at City National Bank, serving as a Director of Miami-Dade Urban Bankers, Interning at Miami-Dade Public Defender’s Juvenile Justice Division and at the U. S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Don James is qualified to appear in State and Federal Court and his law practice includes: Bankruptcies, Personal Injury, Divorce Actions, Civil Litigation and Criminal Defense.