The Stories of First Generation Attorneys HYLA First Generation Attorneys Committee

Khady-Emilia Doumbia is a 2L at the University of Houston Law Center, with an undergraduate degree from the University of Alberta. Khady-Emilia is also a judicial intern for Judge Payne in the 55th Judicial District Court in Harris County, Texas.

In this First Gen Story, Khady-Emilia explains what “First Gen” means to her, how that shapes her law school experience, and the sacrifices she’s had to make on her path to becoming the first lawyer in her family—like attending law school in a new country, in a new culture, and studying the law in her non-native language. Khady-Emilia also provides honest advice to our listeners about the importance of finding a mentor that you trust and feel comfortable talking to, even if it means reaching out to someone you don’t know. For Khady-Emilia, this meant taking a leap of faith and reaching out on social media to one of her role models. Khady-Emilia’s journey to find her mentor reminds our First Gen listeners that once you find someone who will go to war for you, everything can change, and anything is possible.

Chris Kwon is the son of Korean immigrants and runs his own firm, Kwon Law, PLLC, a personal injury trial law firm in Pearland, TX. In this First Gen Story, Chris shares the ups and downs he’s faced as he’s navigated his career path as a first gen attorney. Chris’s story is one of courage, optimism, and hard work. In this episode, Chris gives our listeners helpful advice and tips that he had to learn on his own as he began the journey of opening and running his firm. We learn that being first gen puts you on a different path than your peers who aren’t first gen. And one way to bridge that gap is by building relationships with more experienced lawyers. Chris reminds us that it’s okay to make mistakes, as long as you stay determined, stay resilient, and ask for help when you need it.

Tiffany Santhavi is a plaintiff’s employment lawyer at TB Robinson Law Group, PLLC, a native Houstonian, and licensed to practice law in Texas and Georgia. In this First Gen Story, Tiffany shares part of her personal statement from her law school applications, and in doing so, takes us along her personal quest of perseverance, beginning with the legacy left by her parents and grandparents. Tiffany is open and honest about her past struggles and the obstacles she had to overcome as a daughter of refugees who came to America for the promise of a better life. In this episode, we learn about Tiffany’s journey towards embracing her family’s legacy and how her struggles along the way became valuable life lessons. Ultimately, Tiffany leaves our listeners with a powerful and necessary truth that bears repeating:  you have a choice in whoever you want to be. 

Thanks for listening! 

Nikita Lamar is the managing attorney of The Lamar Legal Group, a full service firm with a focus on probate law, family law, and personal injury law in Houston, TX, and its surrounding counties. In this first gen story, Nikita shares her inspirational and unconventional path to the practice of law, from undergrad in Tennessee, to entering the non-profit world in Houston, to graduating from Thurgood Marshall School of Law, and ultimately, managing her own law practice. But like most First Gen Attorneys, Nikita’s story Nikita pays homage to the generations that came before her and how that history helped make her own path possible. Nikita tells us what it means for her to be both Black and a first generation attorney, how those identities intersect, and reminds us that legacies we carry impact how we succeed today. Ultimately, Nikita’s story reflects a powerful truth all first gen people should know: just because your path as a first gen attorneys is unconventional, doesn’t mean you can’t succeed.

For more information on Nikita or her practice, please check out The Lamar Legal Group on Facebook!

Kimberly McTorry is a trial lawyer dedicated to the rights of others and runs her own criminal defense practice, McTorry Law, PLLC. In this First Gen Story, Kimberly talks about the races she’s had to run her entire life, the catalysts that led her to embrace her voice, redefine success, why she never quit striving, and why you shouldn’t either. Kimberly’s passion will inspire you, as she takes you on her journey from being a first gen college and law student, to prosecutor, and now to running her own firm, where she thrives in the peaceful chaos of the courtroom. To learn more about Kimberly, visit her website at https://www.shesmylawyer.com/.

Monica Lopez is an associate attorney at Jackson Walker LLP and was Co-Chair of the First Generation Attorneys Committee in 2019-2020, and is a Co-Founder of the Stories of First Generation Attorneys Podcast. In this episode, Monica shares her First Gen Story and the life-long lessons she learned as the daughter of migrant farm labor contractors and Mexican Immigrants, straddling two lives, two worlds, two identities. In this multi-part story, Monica pays homage to the lessons of her parents and the legacy they left behind. Monica takes us through the struggles, joys, sacrifices, and triumphs of her journey, and what it took for her to survive and succeed while navigating the grief and uncertainty of losing her loved ones. Monica’s powerful story reminds our first gen listeners, that despite your circumstances, trust the seasons of your life, keep moving forward, and remember— you are never alone. To learn more about Monica, click here: https://www.jw.com/news/monica-lopez-hispanic-heritage-texas-lawbook/.