May 6, 2024 by Ashley Norris
Staff Spotlight: Thai Nguyen’s Journey from Immigrant to Legal Aid Attorney
Topic
News
Thai-Anh Nguyen immigrated to the United States from Vietnam at the age of five and focused on his education. He adapted to American culture while remaining proud of his Vietnamese heritage, establishing himself in Greater Houston as a legal aid lawyer for Lone Star Legal Aid.
When he emigrated from Vietnam, the country was still war torn and under strict economic control. Vietnam suffered under these economic conditions as a developing nation. With high rates of poverty, and a bleak future, Nguyen’s father uprooted his family. Under the cover of darkness, they escaped communist-controlled Vietnam. Nguyen’s family ultimately settled in refugee camps before heading to the States.
Upon arriving in the U.S., Nguyen’s family benefited from government assistance programs like public housing, food stamps, and Medicaid. He recalls the challenges of being a non-native speaker in a new country, struggling to learn how to read English. Undeterred, he excelled academically, earning a Bachelor of Science in Political Science and Economics from the University of Houston.
Reflecting on his journey, Nguyen acknowledges the importance of government services in his life. Nguyen is a product of those government benefits, the public school system, and hard work. “Dreaming is good, but you have to work hard to make those dreams a reality,” he emphasized.
Nguyen later pursued his dream of becoming a lawyer, attending South Texas College of Law. After graduation, he volunteered at Lone Star Legal Aid before being hired as a staff attorney upon passing the bar exam. He has been working as a legal aid lawyer ever since, drawn to Lone Star Legal Aid’s reputation among the client community, location, and diverse staff.
At Lone Star Legal Aid, Nguyen has found a supportive environment and a sense of belonging. As an immigrant and a native Vietnamese speaker, he has connected with clients who share similar backgrounds. These connections have lasted over a decade, enriching his personal and professional life.
Nguyen’s work at Lone Star Legal Aid has shown him the struggles low-income families face in navigating the legal system. Recognizing the need for accessible legal representation, he has made it his mission to help those experiencing economic hardship have equal access to justice and protect the promise of equality under the rule of law. Over the past 14 years, Nguyen has handled hundreds of cases, providing legal assistance to low-income Texans seeking redress.
His motivation has always been to help others, not to seek material things or social status. “My goal is just to help people,” he reiterated. “Lone Star Legal Aid was the catalyst for that. I owe a lot to Lone Star Legal Aid. I am truly grateful.”
Lone Star Legal Aid (LSLA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit law firm focused on advocacy for low-income and underserved populations by providing free legal education, advice, and representation. LSLA serves millions of people at 125% of federal poverty guidelines, who live in 72 counties in the eastern and Gulf Coast regions of Texas, and 4 counties in Southwest Arkansas. LSLA focuses its resources on maintaining, enhancing, and protecting income and economic stability; preserving housing; improving outcomes for children; establishing and sustaining family safety, stability, health, and wellbeing; and assisting populations with special vulnerabilities, like those with disabilities, the aging, survivors of crime and disasters, the unemployed and underemployed, the unhoused, those with limited English language skills, and the LGBTQIA+ community. To learn more about Lone Star Legal Aid, visit our website at www.LoneStarLegal.org.
Media contact: media@lonestarlegal.org
