LEXLOONG is honored to feature Lai Zhonghua, a criminal defense attorney currently practicing in Texas, as part of our “LEXLOONG Chinese Legal Professionals Interview” series. In this interview, Attorney Lai shares how she decided on her career path during her academic journey, the invaluable lessons she has learned along the way in criminal defense, and her heartfelt advice for young legal practitioners. Let’s dive into her story and insights.
01 Personal Background
Attorney Lai Zhonghua is a criminal defense attorney licensed to practice in Texas, as well as in the U.S. District Courts for the Northern and Southern Districts of Texas. She previously worked at the Texas Attorney General’s Office, where she accumulated extensive experience in criminal defense. She firmly believes that her clients are not merely a case file number but living, breathing individuals. Known for her creative approach to cases, Attorney Lai actively helps her clients navigate challenges and rebuild their lives.
Attorney Lai earned her Master of Laws (LLM) degree from the University of Texas School of Law. Before founding her own law firm, she worked at Mayer Brown’s Beijing office. Her extensive experience in criminal law has earned her the trust of numerous clients. She is fluent in both Chinese and English.
02 Academic Journey
Interviewer: During your time pursuing an LLM at the University of Texas at Austin, what was your greatest takeaway? How did this study abroad experience influence your career?
Attorney Lai: First of all, UT (The University of Texas at Austin) is an excellent school. Its law school consistently ranks among the top 20 in the United States. During my LLM studies, my greatest takeaway was gaining a deep understanding of the U.S. legal system and developing cross-cultural legal thinking. This experience taught me how to analyze issues from different perspectives.
Our professors organized visits to courtrooms, where we could observe real trials. This allowed us to closely witness the American judicial process, which was incredibly enlightening. Additionally, UT Austin is a very inclusive school, with students and professors from all over the world. Interacting with such a diverse group of people broadened my horizons and taught me how to handle complex legal matters in a globalized context.
This experience has had a profound impact on my career, especially in handling international cases. For example, I am currently working on a cross-border criminal case that requires returning to China for a deposition. My education at UT Austin has been immensely helpful in navigating such cases.
Moreover, since I studied at UT Austin and now practice in Texas, I benefit from the school’s strong alumni network. UT alumni are prevalent across various judicial systems in Texas, and I often encounter them in my practice. This has positively influenced my career in numerous ways.
03 Career Choices and Personal Growth
Interviewer: You previously worked at Mayer Brown’s Beijing office. What motivated you to transition from Mayer Brown to founding your own law firm?
Attorney Lai: Mayer Brown is a well-established, internationally renowned law firm with a very mature system. If you follow their processes and play by the rules, you’re likely to achieve good results. The promotion path is also quite clear. However, within such a large system, you might only play a very small role in a case, without being able to oversee or control the entire process.
At the time, I wasn’t entirely certain, but I had a vague sense that this wasn’t what I wanted.
When you run your own law firm, you have a clear understanding of the trajectory of a case from start to finish. You can follow the case thoroughly, whether by assigning tasks to junior attorneys or handling it yourself. Ultimately, you are responsible for the case, and you gain a comprehensive view of it.
Additionally, as you handle more and more cases, you derive a significant sense of accomplishment. While my firm is small in scale, it gives me greater freedom. I can manage my time, decide the pace of the case, and control every detail. I truly enjoy this autonomy and am very satisfied with my current work environment.
Lexloong: You also worked at the Texas Attorney General’s Office. How did this experience shape your career?
Attorney Lai: This experience was incredibly impactful—it directly determined my practice area and the focus of my law firm.
To use a somewhat inappropriate metaphor, working at the Attorney General’s Office was like infiltrating "the enemy’s camp." It gave me an insider’s perspective, which now makes handling cases much easier.
First, working at the Attorney General’s Office exposed me to a large volume of criminal cases—hundreds each year. This honed my sensitivity to criminal cases. I understand how prosecutors think and what the boundaries are for criminal cases because I was once one of them.
Additionally, this role taught me the entire criminal case process, from indictment to conviction. It not only enhanced my technical skills in handling criminal cases but also taught me how to make decisions under high-pressure conditions, as I faced numerous cases daily.
Another critical takeaway was learning to balance public and individual interests. Criminal cases inherently involve this duality—public interest on one side and individual rights on the other. This experience also allowed me to build a network within the prosecution system.
Sometimes, when I hit a roadblock in a case, I reach out to experienced attorneys or prosecutors I know. Often, a single piece of advice from them provides the direction I need to resolve the case. This network, along with the practical experience I gained, solidified my decision to focus on criminal law for my firm.
04 Creative Strategies in Criminal Cases
Lexloong: You mentioned employing creative strategies in handling cases. Can you share an example where such a strategy helped a client overcome significant challenges?
Attorney Lai: Criminal cases are highly confidential, so I can’t disclose too many details. However, I can share the broader context of a case in Texas where my client was charged with a first-degree felony.
Initially, this case was handled by another senior attorney. The client was Chinese, and the attorney seemed to hit a dead end. When he saw that I was also Chinese, he asked if I’d be willing to join the case. I agreed.
After reviewing the case file, I realized that the client met all the elements of the alleged crime and was likely to be convicted. However, I suspected there might be a communication barrier between the client and the previous attorney, which could have led to overlooked details.
I conducted several in-depth conversations with the client. During these discussions, I questioned whether there was any element of coercion involved, which could impact criminal intent. Unfortunately, the client repeatedly insisted there was no coercion, so this line of hope seemed to diminish.
Still unwilling to give up, I continued to dig deeper into the client’s background. Through further conversations, I discovered that the client was extremely timid and feared retaliation. I assured him of his safety, explaining that the person he feared was no longer in the United States.
This reassurance opened up further dialogue. Eventually, I realized that while there might not have been physical coercion, there could have been economic coercion. After carefully explaining the legal concept of coercion, the client finally recognized that he had indeed been coerced in an economic sense. This breakthrough allowed us to move the case forward successfully.
05 Human-Centered Approach in Criminal Defense
Lexloong: You’ve said that clients are not just a string of numbers on a case file but living, breathing individuals. How does this philosophy manifest in your practice?
Attorney Lai: Behind every criminal case lies a unique story. Often, criminal cases resemble a Rashomon-like situation—there’s no perfect victim, nor a perfect defendant.
In the U.S., as an immigrant nation, criminal law frequently intersects with immigration law, placing clients in a particularly precarious position. Many of my clients are Chinese immigrants.
For instance, if someone overstays their visa—whether it’s a tourist or student visa—and becomes involved in a criminal case, immigration authorities will often issue a detainer. This means that even if the client is granted bail and the jail decides to release them, they can still be taken into custody by immigration authorities within 48 hours.
In such scenarios, bail becomes almost meaningless, as the client will end up in immigration detention. This process can take up to a year, which is an incredibly long and grueling wait for clients.
A lawyer's human-centered approach is crucial in these cases. For example, I make frequent visits to clients in detention, explaining the evidence and case updates. I also send them books to keep them engaged.
In jury trials, if the client is a woman, I sometimes arrange for a makeup artist to visit the detention center to help her look presentable in court. This can positively impact the case outcome. Overall, I believe that showing compassion and care for clients is incredibly important.
06 Advice for Aspiring Legal Professionals
Lexloong: What advice would you give to young people entering or aspiring to join the legal profession?
Attorney Lai: First, read extensively—especially the classics in legal philosophy. Works like Montesquieu’s The Spirit of Laws, Beccaria’s On Crimes and Punishments, Cicero’s On the Laws, and Rousseau’s The Social Contract are essential.
Second, network with experienced attorneys. This is absolutely critical. They can provide invaluable guidance. For example, a problem that might take you three hours to solve could be resolved in ten minutes with advice from an experienced lawyer.
Even now, I continue to learn from my peers and mentors. Building these relationships and learning from others is an ongoing process.
Thank you once again, Attorney Lai, for sharing your valuable insights. Stay tuned for more interviews with legal professionals in our “LEXLOONG Chinese Legal Professionals Interview” series!
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