91��Ƭ�S�ϼ�

Sarah Saldaña’s remarkable career path to becoming the first Latina director of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has served as an inspiration for young attorneys, especially at her alma mater, SMU Dedman School of Law. Her success in private practice and her unexpected journey into public service has been marked by excellence in her field and a heartfelt commitment to justice.

Saldaña spoke at a recent Trailblazer Speaker Series event where she gave listeners a masterclass on the essentials of finding success in law – something she has experienced plenty of herself. In 2012, she was named one of the most influential Hispanics in the nation by Hispanic Magazine. That same year, SMU School of Law honored her with a Distinguished Alumni Award, an acknowledgment of her outstanding achievements and contributions to the legal community.

As an accomplished attorney and luminary in the legal field, her career serves as a model for law students about what is possible when dedication and principled practice are amplified by the myriad possibilities available to those pursuing a degree in law. But unlike so many driven students with a clear picture of where they want to go, Saldaña never had that lightbulb moment. “It was really just that I admired the legal professionals that I knew, and it struck me that that is something that really has no limits.”

A proud 1984 graduate of SMU Law, she recently celebrated her 40th year since earning her degree. Her legal experience spans both public and private sectors. She worked as a deputy criminal chief for the Fraud and Public Corruption Section at the U.S. Attorney's Office and clerked for the Honorable Barefoot Sanders. She practiced commercial and employment litigation at prestigious law firms such as Haynes Boone and Baker Botts, but found public service to be her truest calling.

“Yes, just making money is fun,” she told students. “It's nice, it's all good. But there's something about public service, and in the legal profession in particular, that I think we all ought to just keep as an option there in the back of your minds as you move along in your education.”

She never expected to spend half of her career in public service. It took a great deal of coaxing from a fellow SMU alumna to get her to even consider the idea.

“I didn't set out to become the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas. Civil law was my area. I wanted to fight over property and money, not people's lives and liberty, but one of the SMU grads here, Jane Boyle, was a federal judge here in town. She was the first female US Attorney in the Northern District of Texas. She encouraged me.

“Judge Boyle persuaded me to come to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. She knew I was a civil practitioner, and she said, ‘No, no, you’ve got to do criminal.’ I thought she was nuts, but it turned out to be a fantastic thing.”

She quickly found her footing, and a career calling, in the courtroom representing the interests of the nation and its people. She took on emotionally difficult cases that motivated her to perform at her best.

“When I became a prosecutor, an Assistant United States Attorney, I rarely needed notes because, as an example, in a human trafficking case I'm thinking about the burden and the injustice and the cruelty and the torture that my victims felt.”

She described one of her cases involving a group of Korean women who had been brought to the US under false pretenses. She never looked at her notes as she spoke to the rapt courtroom. The women’s story was so compelling that Saldaña felt she could make the strongest impression on the jury by speaking from her heart.

Even for steely U.S. prosecutors, the job presented its difficulties. After persuading the jury to convict a bank embezzlement criminal, the courtroom listened to the man’s background at the sentencing. Saldaña recalls the horrific experiences that the man had endured as a child which were read aloud.

“Here’s the prosecutor who convicted this guy, and there's a tear – I feel it already forming in my face, and then it comes down. I’m thinking, the prosecutor who convicted this person cannot be crying at the sentencing. I did my best. It's hard not to get emotional in some instances.”

In 2014, she hit a major career milestone. Her work as a U.S. Attorney caught the attention of the Obama Administration, and she was nominated and confirmed to be the first Latina director of ICE. “I was very happy because I was United States Attorney at the time. I think the administration wanted someone to come in with a law enforcement background because the administration was being criticized for not removing enough people from the country.

“And I said, ‘No, no thank you. That's very nice of you to think of me.’ I come from a very large Hispanic family from South Texas, and immigration and immigrants are very important to me. When I shared it with my family, they said, ‘Are you kidding? You’ve got to do this.’”

Despite the immense pressure and scrutiny that came with the position, she embraced the challenge, believing that rational, intelligent leadership could bring meaningful change. During her tenure, she oversaw an agency with 20,000 employees, a $6 billion budget, and operations in 46 countries. When she wasn’t actively leading the agency on a day-to-day basis, she was testifying on its behalf before Congress in what were often intense exchanges with lawmakers.

She humorously advised those interested in her tenure to search for her congressional testimonies, particularly her exchanges with a certain Senator, which she described as both fiery and entertaining. On the other hand, “Some of it will put you to sleep,” she said, “so you might read it in the evening so you can get to sleep.”

She reminded the audience of law students that public service has a range of unexpected opportunities for young professionals looking to get their feet wet. ICE had a team of 1,000 lawyers and was therefore one of the bigger law firms in the country. During her tenure, they dealt with everything from bringing terrorists to justice to capturing Nazi war criminals.

Now that her official government roles have concluded, Saldaña embraces the freedom to engage in meaningful conversations and initiatives that impact communities. With 20 years of experience in federal government and another 20 years in the private sector, she had lived with the constraints that come with official positions. With the “muzzle now off,” she passionately devotes her time to causes that make a difference.

One such initiative is the Texas Women’s Foundation, an organization dedicated to advocating for better healthcare, education, and economic opportunities for women and girls within the state. Saldaña is working to address the significant disparities that exist in Texas, particularly in child healthcare and economic inequality. She believes in directly engaging with legislators to guide policy decisions in a way that benefits all Texans. Nationally, she supports organizations such as States United, which focus on safeguarding democracy, and emphasize the importance of civic engagement.

Beyond policy and advocacy, Saldaña finds joy in hands-on community service. Every Tuesday afternoon, she volunteers at the Cathedral of Hope, preparing hot meals for the homeless. She described the experience as deeply rewarding, noting that sometimes acts of service give more to the giver than the recipient.

She took time to impart wisdom to young professionals in the audience looking to make a career in either public or private practice. She emphasized the importance of taking advantage of opportunities, learning from mentors, and applying key lessons to achieve professional success.

“It’s important to have a connection wherever you are when you leave law school. There're some pretty cool people that are lawyers, and just getting to know them and sharing your experiences as you're going along is really good for your mental health.

“I was fortunate to have a good group of women. Heck, there's about six of us that went through the Baker Botts pipeline. I think the last one has just retired. We gather still today – once, two, three times a year – and have meals and talk about things. I truly believe lawyers make good friends.”

In the legal profession, she said it’s all about relationships. Networking is one thing, but simply striking up conversations and meeting people is how to find both success and fulfillment. Learning people skills also goes a long way in connecting with a jury.

Reflecting on her law school days, she shared that her initial goal was simply to survive the first year – a sentiment familiar to many law students. Coming from a family with no prior legal professionals, she and her sister pursued law simultaneously, without initially revealing their plans to one another. Her journey underscores the unpredictable nature of career paths and the importance of remaining open to opportunities.

As a Latina pursing law, Saldaña says she learned the profession the old-fashioned way. “My suggestion – and this is kind of in my nature to begin with – is just to listen and learn and watch and pick people’s brains. Whatever you’re practicing, the Dallas Bar Association is a tremendous resource. Whether you’re on your own, hanging your shingle out, or with a 500-person law firm, the Dallas Bar is a good place to meet people who are your peers.”

She advised students not to limit themselves to traditional legal career paths. With a dose of humility, she told the Trailblazer audience, “That’s the one thing I want to leave with you all, is, please don’t be like I was. Do as I say, not as I do.” With a degree in law, “There’s no limitation to what you can do,” she said, and she encouraged students to explore both private and public sector opportunities, as each offers unique rewards. She noted that working in public service, particularly in roles such as a federal prosecutor, brings a sense of purpose and fulfillment that goes beyond financial gain.

To maintain balance, she stressed the importance of relationships. With six siblings of her own, her family has always been her bedrock. Having a strong support system is key to staying grounded in a demanding profession. She advised young attorneys to surround themselves with uplifting people, eliminate toxic relationships, and find joy outside of work.

Sarah Saldaña’s legacy serves as a powerful reminder that success in law is not just about earning a degree or securing a prestigious position. It is about making an impact, whether through advocating for justice, shaping public policy, or mentoring the next generation of attorneys.