The first client with whom I ever worked was Mexican. He was in the United States illegally and had been accused of theft in Texas. I was shadowing his defense attorney. The trial was about to begin before an all-white jury, and the attorney advised the client to leave his snakeskin belt and cowboy boots at home and try to dress less "Mexican." In a county notorious for anti-immigrant sentiment, the lawyer said he didn’t want to give the jury any more reason to convict.
The incident took me back in time. One of the reasons I entered the law was to join a profession that functions above racism and discrimination. Surely, educated people understand the importance of equality. I was convinced that all lawyers fight for equality. Because that’s what people with a law degree do, right?
