Against the Odds: Michael’s Unlikely Journey to Becoming a Lawyer

A young man in a graduation gown and cap smiling outdoors, holding a bouquet of flowers, with other graduates and people in the background in a city setting.

Michael's path to becoming an attorney wasn't easy or expected. His LSAT scores (151 and 153) meant he was accepted to only one law school: Thomas Jefferson School of Law in San Diego, ranked near the bottom of all American law schools. But Michael had grown up watching his immigrant parents work multiple jobs, never giving up. And he'd been inspired by Legally Blonde—the story of someone underestimated who proved everyone wrong.

So Michael found the smartest students, formed study groups, and worked harder than he'd ever worked. First semester grades came back: he ranked 10th out of 190 students—top 6%. That performance earned him a transfer to UC Hastings (now UC Law SF), a top-tier law school ranked in the top 50 nationally.

When he first moved to San Francisco for law school, living in a tiny Noe Valley studio, he noticed Sutro Tower every single day. That towering landmark became his constant, his beacon in a new city. The songs he'd sung in chorus finally made sense: this was home.

Two smiling men at a conference or event, making peace signs with their hands, with a crowd and stage with pink and purple lighting in the background.
Group of nine diverse individuals in formal attire standing on a stage with a blue curtain background, an American flag, and awards, smiling for a photo.

Makin’ It in the Law

After graduating, Michael got his first Big Law job through Lavender Law, the National LGBT Bar Association conference—another example of how LGBTQ+ community and advocacy opened doors. Now living in Twin Peaks in District 8, he still sees Sutro Tower every morning—a reminder that San Francisco became the home his family spent years searching for, and that he earned through hard work and determination.

But Michael knows that the promise of home is now broken for too many families. He's fighting to make sure San Francisco remains a place where everyone—regardless of LSAT scores, immigration status, or how much money your family has—can find stability, belonging, and community.

From Refugee Camp to Legal Advocate

My parents met in a refugee camp at Eglin Air Force Base after fleeing Vietnam. They came to America seeking freedom, opportunity, and a legal system that would protect them—not persecute them.

Growing up moving from place to place, I learned that stability matters. Systems can either help people thrive or push them out. Who makes the rules determines who and how they serve.

Becoming a Lawyer

I worked my way to UC Hastings Law School, transferring after ranking in the top 6% at a lower-ranked school. It wasn't easy—every step required proving I belonged in rooms that weren't designed for people like me.

But law school gave me something powerful: the ability to understand how systems work, to draft policy that protects people, and to advocate for communities that get overlooked.

Leading at the National Level

Today, I serve as President of the National Conference of Vietnamese American Attorneys (NCVAA)—a national organization advancing Vietnamese American legal professionals and advocating for immigrant communities across the country.

Through NCVAA, I've fought for:

→ Representation in the legal profession
→ Policies that serve immigrant families
→ Justice for communities facing discrimination

Why This Matters for District 8

Legal expertise isn't just about credentials—it's about knowing how to get things done.

I know how to:

  • Draft legislation that actually works

  • Navigate complex city bureaucracy to get results

  • Advocate effectively in rooms where decisions get made

  • Protect tenants' rights through strong policy

  • Hold powerful interests accountable under the law

From understanding how laws are made to fighting to make them serve everyday people—that's the expertise I'm bringing to District 8.

Because our community deserves a supervisor who doesn't just talk about change—but knows exactly how to create it.

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Three people posing at an NCVAA event, a woman in a white dress on the left, a man in a green traditional outfit in the middle, and a woman in a black dress on the right, standing in front of a branded backdrop.