Interview with Dr. Yamallis Marrero

For my informational interview, I spoke with Dr. Yamallis Marrero. She began her legal career in 1997 and continues to work today, bringing 28 years of experience to the field. She is currently a notary, but when she first started practicing law, she focused on family and divorce cases, actively defending clients in the courtroom. Dr. Morrero earned her bachelor’s degree in Communications from the University of Puerto Rico and later pursued her law degree at the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico School of Law. She always knew she wanted to become a lawyer due to her passion for advocating for others, which is why she chose to study communications first.

She shared many stories from her time in the field, but one of her favorite memories involved helping a group of senior citizens resolve complicated land issues. She described feeling fulfilled after that case, knowing she made a meaningful difference in their lives. However, not all memories were positive. When asked about her worst experience, she recounted a divorce case in which a client lied to her. The lie was exposed in court when the opposing side presented evidence, which significantly hurt the case. From this, she learned and emphasized to me that “your worst enemy can be your client.” She stressed the importance of being thorough and not taking everything a client says at face value. According to her, some clients will respect your work, while others may not, but as a lawyer, you must provide the same high standard of service to all, because you never know when someone may play a role in your future.

I chose to interview Dr. Morrero because I find her story inspiring. Like me, she is from Puerto Rico, and she works as a solo practitioner, something I hope to become one day. I truly enjoyed hearing her courtroom experiences and learning how she eventually shifted toward less demanding areas of law. My dream is to become a trial attorney and defend those who need it most.

Throughout the interview, a few key themes emerged. First, as a lawyer, you must be prepared for the unexpected. Clients may lie or withhold information, so you have to be ready to adapt and respond strategically. Second, she advised that law students should explore all areas of law before deciding on a specialty. As she explained, lawyers can’t do it all; you have to choose a specific area to focus on, so it's important to discover what you're most passionate about.

After speaking with Dr. Morrero, I plan to take her advice with me throughout my career. I will make it a priority to learn about the different branches of law and discover where my true passion lies. I also now understand the importance of maintaining a healthy skepticism when working with clients, not to assume the worst, but to stay sharp in the pursuit of justice for those who deserve it.