Ahmad Saifi grew up in his traditional family knowing that his family expected him to go into medicine. That pressure was compounded when one brother decided he was going to be a doctor, and the other brother made the decision to go to dentail school. Unfortunately for his family, Saifi wasn't interested in following any profession in the medical field.
Saifi did have a passion though for a good debate.
“I used to like to argue with people for fun, even if I knew I was wrong," smiled Saifi. "I am a very fair person, but I always liked the back-and-forth and exchange of ideas between people."
That all changed when he had to watch his father go through an unjust medical malpractice lawsuit.
"My father's case was eventually dismissed," recalled Saifi, "but what I remember the most was my father's passion and determination to oppose the unfair claims on him. I know that if he hadn't had that fight in him, it all might have turned out differently."
This realization was a defining moment for Saiffi. Not only would a legal career channel his debate skills, it could also fulfill his family's aspirations for him to work in the medical field; only as a medical malpractice defense attorney.
Embarking on a legal career also involved its fair share of challenges, including some feelings of anxiety and being overwhelmed. That mindset changed after talking to some Cooley professors.
“Pacing yourself is key," shared Saifi. "That is what I learned from Professor Church and Professor Hicks. Both encouraged me to believe in what I’ve always trusted, which is God, and that I should never lose sight of that trust."
From that point on, Saifi gained his confidence, and learned to trust in his abilities in law school. He recently started an externship with Cooley graduate Jessenia Rosales, the principal of The Law Office of Jessenia Rosales, a family law and criminal defense law firm.
"I have really flourished," stated Saifi. "Jessenia has taught me so much. She believed in my abilities from the start and saw a vision that, frankly, I didn’t see. She let me spread my wings and do my own thing. It got to the point where she didn't need to review my work because she was confident that I knew what I was doing.”
"One of the toughest decisions I had to make was breaking away from the expectations set by my family," said Saifi. "I see myself as a double immigrant; My grandparents are from Lebanon, migrating to Brazil. Then my parents migrated from Brazil to the United States. There was always a strong family bond and tight-knit culture, but my they also respected our ability to be independent."
Growing up in a family full of businessmen and medical doctors, Saifi realized early on that the medical world of dealing with sick patients wasn't right for him, but a legal career of helping to find justice for people would ultimately fulfill his family's expectations.
It didn't take too long for his parent to fully support his decision to go to law school, and attend Cooley Tampa Bay, despite the distance from his family.
"It was the best decision I could have made," declared Saifi. "Coming to Cooley Tampa Bay allowed me to be on my own, and make that transition from being a boy to a man.”
Reflecting on his time at Cooley, Saifi recalls the genuine kindness of the professors being the most impactful part of his experience.
“I feel like the professors at Cooley care more about the students than other law schools. They know who you are and they always seem to have an open door for you to ask questions or just talk. Everyone has been really good to me in their own way. It gives me a warm feeling when I think about Cooley. I don’t think I would have gotten that anywhere else.”
Saifi's faith is very important to him. It's who he is and he has appreciated that Cooley has been supportive of his religious beliefs.
“I was able to be a practicing Muslim here, without having to change for the masses. Muslims pray five times a day, and I have been able to do my prayers even if it made me late for my class. The fact that I was embraced for my religious beliefs is something I truly love about Cooley."
Academically, Saifi admires the ability of his professors to take the most complex material and break it down into concepts that are simple to understand. “The professors teach us the practical sense of how the law works, but they also teach you how it works in the books and on the exams. In my externship, I had to file a particular motion and when I walked I walked through the steps to file a motion with my externship advisor, she was amazed. She said she didn’t learn about how to file a motion until her second year in practice!"
Saifi is inspired to start his legal career and ready to make his mark on the world.
His professors and his fellow students have recognized the impact Saifi has already made on the Cooley community. In fact, his fellow students recently selected him to be the valedictory speaker of his graduating class at the Tampa Bay Campus.
Saifi credits his wife, "who has always seen me through the good, the bad, and the ugly," and gives every credit to his parents and his faith.
“My wife once asked me who was my biggest inspiration as a lawyer, and I literally looked at her and thought of my professors and my boss Jessenia Rosales.These people are my inspirations and who I look to and want to emulate in the field. In my life though, I want to emulate the lessons of the prophet Muhammad and his teachings and the morals my parents instilled in me. I want to reciprocate the unconditional love that my wife has shown me. Those are the things that really keep my head above water and allow me to propel forward.”