On November 17, TorkLaw founder Reza Torkzadeh gave the keynote speech for the 2018 graduating class of the University of California, Irvine School of Law’s Saturday Academy of Law (SAL). This program provides 9th-grade students a chance to learn about the legal profession while improving their writing and critical thinking skills.
Watch Reza’s speech:
During Reza’s speech, he spoke of being part of an immigrant family from Iran, coming to the United States to escape persecution for their belief in democracy. He acknowledged his gratitude for the lessons he learned from his parents: how they showed him the meaning of hard work and commitment; how they encouraged him to never, ever give up on the pursuit of excellence, and how they taught him that it’s never wrong to do the right thing, even if you fail — but it is always wrong to do the wrong thing, even if you succeed.
He shared with the students his involvement with promoting democracy in Iran, and his pride in being part of the democratic process in the U.S. “Here’s what I love most about the law: in the courtroom, we level the playing field. It doesn’t matter how rich or powerful you are—we are all equal under the law,” he told the crowd. “As a Personal Injury attorney, my clients are everyday people who have been hurt or wronged in some way by no fault of their own.”
The TorkLaw founder encouraged the students to ask themselves what they believe in, and to follow their passion. “I have always believed in people, and I consider it the honor of my life to use the power of the law to help those people.”
