Remarks at Midsummer Reception for City Bar Fellows – By Muhammad U. Faridi, President

We are here tonight to celebrate the achievements of our City Bar fellows. We know that getting to where you are today has not been easy. We are all very proud of you, and you should be proud of yourselves.

As a recipient of this fellowship nearly twenty years ago, I stood where you stand tonight. As I look around the room, I see so many of you who remind me so much of myself. I can see that look in your eyes: determined and driven, but worried that no matter how hard you work, the odds against you are insurmountable. I would be remiss if I did not share a few words about my own experience in dealing with challenges that you are likely to encounter on the road ahead.

The first challenge I dealt with was the lack of a role model in the law firm environment who I knew or who I could relate to. There was no one in my immediate family whose life showed me the path to the profession. Yes, I looked up to my parents, and I still do, and I admire their struggle, their strength, and their fortitude. But neither they, nor anyone else I personally knew, had the background and experience to guide me through the legal profession. Let me tell you what I did: I went to every event like the event today. I introduced myself to as many people there as possible. I never passed on an opportunity to talk to someone. I told them that I was looking for guidance. I was initially shy, but I taught myself to get over it. And I got lucky, very lucky. I ran into some people who took interest in me and guided me. I hope the same is true for you.

The second challenge is managing your personal, financial, and familial obligations while in law school. I, too, much like many of you, have parents and family members who depended on me throughout college and law school to contribute to the family’s income. Yes, they wanted me to excel in school and have a career, but they also expected me—or rather, they needed me—to work and to maintain a job while I went to school. So how do you deal with that? For people in our situation, there’s only one way that I know—you work hard. Harder than your peers, many of whom do not come from the same backgrounds as you. Some of whom don’t need to work to pay the rent. You’re not one of them. There is no time to sulk or be jealous. You have to make sacrifices to get ahead. If you’re going to law school in the daytime and driving a livery cab in the evening, you have to get your reading done waiting for passengers at bars, restaurants, and airports. On the weekends, you may not be able to hang out with friends because you have to work to pay the rent. And in the process, you may lose a friend. That hurts. It’s the price you pay for getting ahead. And you have to have—and this was the most difficult thing for me—those difficult conversations with your family members and those who depend on you. You have to let them know that you may not be able to pay rent on time, because you’re trying to become a lawyer. They will understand. Even if you think they are disappointed in you at that moment, they’ll be secretly cheering you on. And that will become more apparent when you see them tear up at your law school graduation and when you pass the bar exam.

The third challenge is that when you become a lawyer, you cannot just be an average lawyer. You have to be an extraordinary lawyer. Here is why: At your first legal job, when you walk into that law firm, the in-house law department, or government agency, many of you—just because of your background—will be in the minority. The legal profession has made many advances over the years, but it still struggles when it comes to diversity. So don’t be surprised if you get mistaken, as I was by a security guard, as an employee of the mailroom department or as a paralegal at the firm. Also, your peers and adversaries may not have worked with people of your background before. You may be the first lawyer with a dark skin tone, an accent, or an immigrant-sounding name they have met in that capacity. And because of that they may have an implicit bias—a pernicious perception that some people, even many of us, don’t recognize. They may think that the only reason you got the job was because of affirmative action. That you’re not really qualified. You may be doing the same job as your peers, but they may expect more from you. If your peers make a mistake, they may let that slide, but whatever you do may be viewed through a microscopic lens. So how do you deal with that? You just have to do a better job than your peers. You have to work harder than them. You have to make sure you proofread your briefs, memos, and contracts twice. You’ll have to get in early and stay late.

The fourth challenge is that when you become a lawyer, don’t fall victim to the inferiority complex. Don’t quit or underestimate yourself. Ultimately, you will not be judged by your pedigree, your skin tone, or accent, but on your efforts, hard work, and results. Because that’s what matters. One note of caution: Don’t be presumptuous in thinking that all of your bosses are biased or that you won’t be able to have genuine relationships with them just because they have a different background than you. That can perhaps be the biggest mistake that you can make. You’ll find that many of these people are in your camp. They will appreciate your background and struggle. Many of them will have struggled too.

The fifth challenge is understanding what it means to be successful in the practice of law. How you define success is important. Let me be blunt: If you want to be rich, do not go into the practice of law. Go become a businessperson or go work in finance. Success in the legal profession is not measured by how much money you make, but by how fulfilled you are. You’ll need to find what drives you and what makes you happy. A deeper purpose for becoming a lawyer, other than money. You’ll also need to understand that, sometimes, success does not come immediately. You’ll have many years that will go by empty. You’ll have to keep on trying. And if you do that, you’ll eventually catch a break.

Now the last and perhaps the most overlooked challenge: once you are successful, don’t forget where you’re from. And don’t forget those who made sacrifices to help you get to where you got. When you become a successful lawyer, you’ll be hanging out with a different crowd. Many of you may no longer be living in the communities in which you grew up in. You may drive a better car and wear better clothes. You may eat in fancy restaurants and take exotic vacations. You’ll have a new group of friends and a new social circle. In that moment, it is very easy to forget what made you who you are. Don’t. I am not saying that you shouldn’t be proud of your accomplishments. You should be proud, as I’m sure your families and friends will be. But you can’t forget your past, because your past is your identity. You’re going to need a constant reminder of the struggle. Because if you lose that perspective, you’ll lose your humility. If you lose that perspective, you’ll become arrogant. If you lose that perspective, you’ll lose your drive and motivation.

And in those moments, don’t forget the fact that you got to where you are also in large part due to luck. Just mere luck. I’m going to paraphrase Michael Lewis, the financial journalist and author: If you’ve had success due to luck, don’t forget that luck comes with an obligation. You owe a debt, and not just to your Gods. You owe a debt to the unlucky. Those who may not have had the same opportunities and support system as you. You’re going to have to help them. You are also going to owe a debt to the communities that you come from. They are going to depend on you. And you might win some battles for them, and you might lose some battles for them. But remember what the great poet and prophet said: The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice.

Thank you for listening and coming here tonight.