Pedro Torres-Díaz is a Florida Fellow and Immediate Past-President of the Hispanic National Bar Association. He is currently a Principal in the San Juan, Puerto Rico, and Miami, Florida, offices of Jackson Lewis P.C. Mr. Torres-Díaz joined the Fellows of the American Bar Foundation in April 2016.
What does being a Fellow mean to you?
To me, being a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation is another important way in which I can give back to the community and help others achieve success in the law.
Where were you born and raised?
I was born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and attended law school and practiced law there as well.
Why did you decide to pursue a career in law?
I believe it was a combination of factors. My father is an attorney, so I was introduced to the practice of law very early on. In addition, as I grew up, I realized the importance of speaking up for others who could not do so themselves, of raising our voices in the face of injustice. And I realized that a career in law would allow me to do just that.
If you hadn’t pursued a career in law, what would you have done?
Interesting question! These two would seem at odds with each other, but I probably would have pursued a career in engineering or owned a hotel and restaurant!
What do you do in your free time?
I love to read, so there will always be a stack of good books on my night table. I also love to spend time with Natalia and Alexandra, my teenage daughters. And I love cycling – I ride about 80 miles a week.
Anything else you’d like to add?
I am a firm believer in diversity and inclusion, and I have devoted a good portion of my career to helping advance diverse lawyers in the legal profession, both through my firm and through my work with the Hispanic National Bar Association, which I presided between 2016 and 2017. I am encouraged by the efforts of the ABF and the ABA in this field, and I am proud of my firm, Jackson Lewis, P.C., for its leadership in this area. Unfortunately, much remains to be done. I see it as our moral obligation as lawyers, especially diverse lawyers, to give a helping hand to those who come behind us. We must all take time to not just mentoring, but championing others, to ensure our legal profession is a reflection of the diverse community it serves.