Meet Houston Lawyer
Raed Gonzalez has served as an immigration law practitioner for almost twenty-five years, is recognized as an outstanding immigration litigator and advocate in the U.S., and his opinions are respected and trusted in the legal community. He’s a frequent contributor to the Houston Chronicle.
When and how did you realize you wanted to become a lawyer?
At a previous law firm that I worked many years ago, I was assigned a political asylum case the day before a trial. It involved a Christian Mennonite in Lebanon, who at the time faced persecution. I had very little time to prepare. I stayed up all night studying the facts of the case and pairing them with the law. In the wee hours of the morning, I realized that my client’s life was at stake if he was deported to Lebanon. I also realized he had enough weighty facts and I needed to fight in court to secure him protection. I got ready and went to trial that morning. I won. After the judge rendered the decision, my client started crying and cheered me along and suddenly he grabbed my hands and said: “Thank you for saving my life”. Talk about life changing moments. I knew that, even though I was still learning it, immigration law is what I wanted to dedicate my professional life to. I realized I could practice law, helping people in a deeply significant way. Since that day, I have only worked on immigration cases.
Can you tell us about your career path, how did you get into your current position?
Before becoming an attorney, I worked in customer service. After I became an attorney, I worked as an appellate judge clerk, as associate in law firms, as capital partner in another until I finally set up shop as a solo practitioner in 2012. I worked really hard to scale my practice to the point where we service thousands of clients every year. The competitive advantage of my firm? In addition to the legal and technical knowledge, of course, I have to say that honesty set me aside from others. My firm’s policy is to inform clients whether we can help them or not, the risks in doing so and possible outcomes in a changing legal scheme, because that is the personal standard I am known for. We tell clients the truth of their cases and what we are really able to do for them - then and only then we go ahead and design a legal strategy for the case.
What has been one of the most rewarding moments you have experienced in your career?
The most rewarding moment from my career, was my first case before the Supreme Court of the United States, Dada vs. Mukasey, which compelled the DHS to change their rules regarding withdrawals of some forms of relief in court and voluntary departures. Knowing that our insistence on how the law needed to be applied in that case made a difference for our client and for individuals similarly situated is a reward like none other. I have three other Supreme Court victories. I trust there will be more.
What would you say to young Latinos/as today thinking about pursuing a career as a lawyer? Why is it so important to increase representation in the industry?
Becoming a lawyer is a huge undertaking in terms of the time commitment, financial investment and of your life in general. Law school is not easy and passing the bar can be a difficult challenge. It is not always fun. Albeit it places you in a unique position where you can help individuals, groups, and organizations with their legal problems and further a greater good. Having said that let me state, if you like to advocate for rights of others and if you like to help others, then, go for it! It is an amazing ride after all is said and done.