For the first several years of my life, I was raised by a relatively young, single mother working for an American family in Bogota, Colombia. When I was still a baby, I moved with my mother (originally from Linares, Chile) from Colombia to Maryland so she could continue working for the same generous family that took me in and kept my mom employed through their international move.
When I was about five years old, my mother married my stepdad, introducing us to a large Peruvian family with new customs and values. My family did not speak English well, so I assumed the responsibility of serving as a translator and advocate for my family. Communicating at home in Spanish and at school in English posed significant challenges for me and, consequently, my English vocabulary grew slowly, and I did not enjoy reading.
With the consistent support of my parents, who were always imploring me to do well in school, I was able to succeed. I always took the most difficult classes with the best students, but did not always perform consistently well, even though I worked hard.
My limited vocabulary prevented me from fully expressing myself to the extent dictated by the requirements of certain classes. As a result, I was a solid “B” student. Little did I know, the hurdles I endured while trying to master the English language would turn out to be the root of and inspiration for my decision to become an attorney.
When I was 12 or 13, I met my high school sweetheart, whom I would start dating at 17 and later marry. She played an integral role in helping me overcome the gaps in my English vocabulary. While we were dating, I would constantly ask her about words and their meanings.
Later, I also struggled in college despite decent grades (all “Bs” after my first year). At the urging of one of my professors, I enrolled in a remedial summer school class to learn how to be a more proficient reader and writer. I also rededicated myself to learning more words, so thereafter, I became attached to a dictionary and thesaurus. It’s only fairly recently that the internet has replaced my old “World Book” Dictionary.
As an immigrant (I became a U.S. citizen at 19) who had already overcome many cultural barriers in life with the assistance of others, I was mostly blessed with good mentors my entire life from all segments of society. I was able to succeed in large part through the support and guidance of good people, including an African-American judge, the Honorable G.R. Hovey Johnson, a Circuit Court judge in Prince George’s County Maryland. Judge Johnson gave me an internship after the law firm I had worked for the previous summer had ceased to exist.
I was the first male clerk he ever hired, and the experience and opportunities with the judge gave me the experience I needed to land my next job. For example, about half way into my clerkship, I had caught up with my work with him, so he provided me with a unique opportunity. He allowed me to directly represent indigent individuals who had been indicted on misdemeanor charges in a lower court.
Judge Johnson also provided sage advice. I was perplexed about a particular case before him and I had sought the judge’s advice about how to handle a particular motion. He said that it was not me, explaining:
“I’m not the smartest man, but if something doesn’t make sense, it’s because it doesn’t make sense. It’s not because I’m not smart enough to figure it out.”
These words have stayed with me all these years. I guess it is no coincidence that I am an “ERISA” lawyer. I do not typically get frustrated just because something seems inexplicable or hard to understand.
Also, the law firm partners who trained me in “ERISA” were very patient, stern task-masters, and I am grateful for the amount of time invested in me. It was not only the technical aspects of practice, but there were significant social aspects that I was taught. I learned that 100 percent cotton shirts (as opposed to poly-cotton) and quality clothing and presentation mattered.
On the other hand, there were intermittent (and fortunately, very, infrequent) reminders that prejudices still existed.
One story that helps illustrate this experience is the time I visited Western Maryland to help my dad and his brother secure a loan from a local bank to buy a local business and turn it into an auto body shop.
With no apparent reason, we were denied service, had the completed loan paperwork thrown at us and were told by the loan officer that my dad and uncle would never receive a loan from that bank or buy that business.
The lender made certain that we knew we were not welcome in his world. As a result, I advised my dad and uncle to look elsewhere, which unfortunately, turned out to be the last opportunity we ever considered.
A major reason I’m a lawyer today is that any time my mother and stepfather would negotiate to purchase a product or service, people would assume that, because they didn’t speak any English, they were incompetent or incapable of understanding. I try to treat people, no matter who they are, based on their actions and not the way they look.
Because of my background and upbringing, I’m especially sensitive to people being mistreated based only on outward appearances. My early life experiences translated into a deep passion for advocating for minorities and other underrepresented groups both in the legal profession and in the larger community.
I stay active in groups dedicated to advancing minority careers, like the American Bar Association’s Commission on Hispanic Legal Rights and Responsibilities, which works to address the challenges and responsibilities Hispanics face within the legal system of the United States.
Similarly, I’ve been consistently involved with the Dallas Hispanic Law Foundation (DHLF). Committed to the advancement of Hispanics in the industry, the DHLF supports Hispanic students who seek to study law. The DHLF has awarded more than $250,000 in scholarships to Hispanic law students, as well as provided grants to Hispanic high school and college students with an interest in pursuing law. Through my involvement, I’ve been privileged to personally help award about $40,000 in scholarships and awards to various students.
At work, I make it a priority to support associates of all backgrounds, because I recognize the important impact such relationships can have on a junior attorney’s long-term success. Recently, I was appointed to lead Polsinelli’s firm-wide Hispanic-American Resource Group, providing me an excellent avenue to mentor other Hispanic attorneys within the firm and connect them to other Hispanic leaders in the legal profession.
Mentorship is something that has greatly benefited me professionally and personally, and I hope to continue that legacy with as many younger attorneys as I can, helping guide them through life’s many obstacles.
I believe it’s important to hold organizations accountable for the promotion of diversity as well. For two years, I participated in the Dallas Bar Association’s task force that surveyed Hispanic member attorneys for their perspectives on diversity within the Bar to determine in which areas the organization is performing well, and how it can improve.
My work with the DBA also introduced me to Communities in Schools (CIS), which partners with the DBA to encourage attorneys to get involved with underprivileged students in and around Dallas.
Through this program, I was partnered with, among others, “Abraham,” a seven-year-old boy who had a very unstable home life and who relied on me as a role model. For about 15 to 20 years, I attended Abraham’s school functions, took him to extracurricular activities and welcomed him as part of the family. In fact, when my son graduated high school, we threw a joint party for my son and Abraham, who graduated at the same time.
Now Abraham is a successful young adult who, along the way, served as an infantryman with the United States Marines in Iraq, among other places. Abraham now works as a civil designer in the Dallas area. The opportunity to be a positive influence in someone’s life is one of the biggest blessings I’ve received.
As such, supporting and paving the way for the next generation has always been an important aspect of my life. Knowing the hardships facing Hispanic and other minority groups firsthand, I’ve worked tirelessly to ensure they have a seat at the table. I encourage other attorneys and business leaders, especially those who have faced challenges because of their backgrounds, to prioritize doing the same. We’ve come a long way, but there is much work to be done.
Henry Talavera is a Dallas-based Shareholder in the Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Practice of Am Law 100 firm Polsinelli PC.