Biography of Rawsi Williams

Biography of Rawsi Williams

Rawsi Williams is a Florida-based civil rights attorney, registered nurse, and United States Army veteran. Licensed in both law and nursing, she focuses on defending the civil and constitutional rights of individuals. Her work encompasses federal, state, and administrative cases in various areas, including civil rights, education, employment, healthcare, and government accountability.

She is nationally recognized for securing a unanimous $2 million jury verdict in a federal excessive force case in Florida, the highest jury verdict in a pure police brutality case within that court system. She is also one of only four attorneys in four decades to defeat the Florida High School Athletic Association on behalf of a student-athlete.

Early Life and Influences Rawsi is one of five children, with four daughters and one son. Her life shifted when her only brother was incarcerated, which motivated her to pursue law school to defend those mistreated or silenced by unjust systems. In a painful turn, her brother later became a victim of police brutality in Killeen, Texas, where officers repeatedly tased him inside an ambulance after he had suffered a seizure. The judge in the criminal case determined the officers lacked probable cause for his arrest. She secured a Texas-licensed attorney for him, and a federal lawsuit against those officers remains active.

Service in the United States Army and Early Leadership Before practicing law, she had an established career in healthcare. Her professional journey began in the United States Army, where she entered as a nurse. Military service provided her with early leadership experience and discipline, laying the foundation that later supported her combined path in nursing and law.

Education and Military Service Rawsi completed her undergraduate studies at Tuskegee University, becoming the first female Ranger in the school’s Army ROTC history. Later, she earned her Juris Doctor from Florida A&M University College of Law, developing strong litigation skills. In the Army, she was trained in medical records. She has since obtained several professional certifications and is a sought-after keynote speaker and lecturer across the nation.

Legal Career and Areas of Practice Rawsi is licensed in all Florida state courts and federal courts within the Southern, Middle, and Northern Districts of Florida. She has also been admitted pro hac vice in the Western District of Texas and the Northern District of Georgia.

Her legal practice covers civil rights, employment law, constitutional issues, and administrative cases. She frequently argues in federal courts, including the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals.

She has challenged large corporations, local governments, and school boards. Her work has been featured on television, in print, and on the radio.

Federal Civil Rights and Police Misconduct Litigation Her reputation is firmly established in federal civil rights litigation. She represents clients in cases involving excessive force, unlawful detention, and wrongful death. Among her most notable successes was a federal trial in Fort Myers, Florida, where she secured a $2 million jury verdict after a deputy broke the leg of her client. That verdict remains among the largest in the state for a pure police brutality case under federal law.

Legal Advocacy for Students and Education Law Education rights are another focus of her work. She has represented students in disputes with universities, athletic associations, and school districts involving Title IX, due process, and disciplinary actions. She remains one of the few attorneys in over 40 years to have successfully defeated the Florida High School Athletic Association in court, thereby protecting student-athletes from unfair policies and disciplinary measures.

Administrative Law and Professional Licensure Defense

Her nursing background allows her to represent healthcare professionals in licensing matters.

She has defended nurses, healthcare facilities, educators, and long-term care institutions in administrative proceedings.

Rawsi is a state-certified Assisted Living Facility Administrator and an approved trainer for Assisted Living and Adult Family Care Homes. In addition, she holds certifications from nursing boards in Florida, the District of Columbia, West Virginia, and New Mexico.

Media Features and Public Recognition Her career has been recognized through numerous awards and leadership roles. In 2024, she became Co-Chair of the Civil Rights Committee for the Wilkie D. Ferguson, Jr. Bar Association.

In 2023, she served as Advisor to the Civil Rights Roundtable at the University of Miami School of Law and received the school’s Lawyer in Leadership in Civil Rights Award.

In 2021, she was honored with the National Lawyer of Distinction in Civil Litigation Award. That same year, she was the Keynote Speaker at the Florida Association of Directors of Nursing annual convention and was recognized as Community Activist Woman of the Year.

In 2020, she served as the Keynote Speaker for the Pasco County NAACP Freedom Fund Gala. During the COVID-19 crisis, the American Nurses Association honored one of her motivational quotes directed at frontline nurses.

In 2019, she was named Human Rights Advocate of the Year by Zeta Phi Beta, Inc., and in 2018, she was selected as the Law Day Keynote Speaker for the Church of God in Christ Holy Convocation in St. Louis, Missouri.

Volunteer Work and Community Involvement Her dedication to service extends beyond her professional career. For over a decade, she has volunteered with the Miami-Dade County Public Defender’s Office, representing indigent clients on a pro bono basis. In that role, she has never lost a case.

As Co-Chair of the Civil Rights Committee of the Wilkie D. Ferguson, Jr. Bar Association, she continues to lead initiatives aimed at influencing policy, raising awareness, and advancing justice in underserved communities.

Rawsi Williams continues to stand as a determined advocate for justice, combining her experiences as an attorney, nurse, and veteran. Her commitment to protecting civil rights and holding institutions accountable reflects both her professional expertise and her lifelong dedication to serving others.