Samour Suckram, Esq, is a recent graduate of Florida International University(FIU) College of Law in Miami, where he received his Juris Doctorate (J.D.). Samour studied Finance at Florida State University (FSU), where he graduated Magna Cum Laude. Upon graduating from Florida State University, this young man decided that he wanted to work before taking on his journey to Law school. Samour obtained the job of an Auditor with the Florida Department of Financial Services. During his time at the Department of Finance, he noticed the impact of Law on small businesses, and his passion for becoming a Lawyer grew.
Not long before, he resigned from his position with the Department of Finance and decided to take the LSAT. Taking the LSAT would only be his first step. He needed to find a law school close to home so he could be around his family. Being close to his family would offset some of the stress law school would bring.
“If there were no bad people, there would be no good lawyers.” Charles Dickens
It seemed long in his mind. He constantly asked himself if this was indeed what he wanted to do and if all the hard work would be worth it in the long run. It often seemed like forever, but he knew his desire to become a lawyer was always “his childhood dream.” Samour was born in Kingston, Jamaica, but migrated to the United States at a very tender age. As a child, his desire was always to study Law, even before knowing the role of a Lawyer. As he got older, he often realized that what he wanted most was to make his parents proud because they had sacrificed so much for him and his siblings. Samour often pondered about the long hours his mom and dad worked to ensure he and his siblings had everything they needed. Samour had the full support of his extended family in pursuing a law degree. This was the ultimate motivation that he needed.
Samour’s journey began when he started studying Law at Florida International University. The first time he set foot on campus, he instantly felt motivated and could not wait to experience the possibilities. Little did he know that his journey would not be easy but filled with many tests and trials. Law School, as they say, can be “1L of a ride.” Samour had now met his hell, but somehow, he knew deep within that this hell would one day be his victory. The Three years that Samour studied at FIU afforded him many possibilities. He met many devoted students, professors, mentors, community leaders, and world leaders. He was compelled to work hard no matter the cost. Samour is thankful for the Black Lawyers and Law students who walked the hall of FIU Law before him and were always there to provide support and mentorship along the way.
Challenges: One of the most challenging aspects of law school for Samour was the teaching methodology used in his classes. He stated that “it is not the most straightforward way of learning. It requires great effort and some level of self-learning because we are taught Law through case-based lectures. The professors are there as a guide to help you navigate the cases, extract the Law, and understand the court analysis.” LSAT– This is a challenging examination, and Samour stated that it required a lot of preparation and studying months in advance.
Motivation: He was very fortunate to have a mentor who is a family friend. His mentor made the process of becoming a lawyer easier for Samour. In high school, his mentor gave him insight into what it means to be a lawyer. He allowed him to work in his law firm, helping him prepare for college, helping with the law school admission process, and always being there to provide valuable input in the crucial decisions that led him to be a Lawyer. As the 1st generation Law student, this allowed him to be more confident in his efforts in school and whenever he would complete his internships outside of the classroom.
Personal Statement: This was a challenge that taught him a life lesson. He found it tiresome to create a unique statement reflecting his life story and the hurdles he had to overcome to pursue his dream of becoming an Attorney. Writing his statement allowed him to reflect on his past and childhood stories and use those memories to remember the goal at hand-completing law school. Law school is not an easy journey. It is gruesome, demanding, and time-consuming. Samour’s story represents the importance of having a solid support system while reflecting on acquiring one’s dream. We all have goals, and it is up to us to make that dream a reality. Samour did just that! Today, he not only mentors other people who may fear the process of applying to Law school, but he also works as an Associate at Austin Pamies Norris Weeks Powell, PLLC. His duties involve assisting with litigation and advising governmental boards. Samour finds such joy in his job because he can aid City leaders in achieving their goals and positively impacting their residents’ lives. Samour believes that representation plays a significant role in how he can change people’s lives daily.
Representation meant a lot to Samour! This is so because it was not until he came to the United States as a second grader and learned of Thurgood Marshall that he knew his childish dream of becoming a lawyer could go through. Meeting other lawyers who looked like him and seeing the impact they made in their communities motivated Samour to push through and make his dream a reality. Being a part of groups such as The Caribbean Bar Association, Jamaican American Bar Association, and The H.T. Smith Black Law Student Association allowed him to be immersed in his culture while studying Law.
SUCCESS IS NO ACCIDENT!
“It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice, and most of all,love of what you are doing.” Pelé
