ACR : Jurisprudence has many ways for counselors of the law practicing their craft for legitimacy . Was it always your goal to becoming a lawyer ?
DA : I was a student of Engineering when I came from India in 1967 . I had a Bachelor ’ s degree from the Indian Institute of Technology at Delhi . I then attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill towards a Master ’ s degree , and then North Carolina State University at Raleigh for a PhD in Civil / Environmental Engineering . Then , I moved to Miami to practice Environmental Engineering and did so for more than 10 years . In 1978 or so , I faced a challenging situation when the Vice Mayor of a City , who was my client , started pressuring me to give him a bribe . Instead of doing that , I reported him to the State Attorney ’ s office . He was arrested and eventually , found guilty , and sentenced accordingly . That case also prompted a Constitutional Amendment in Florida and it passed in the November 1982 elections . During 1978 to 1982 , I spent close to 2000 hours of time working with the State Attorney ' s office and other professionals to get this corrupt public official convicted . This experience made me develop a tremendous respect for the lawyers and legal professionals . Therefore , in 1980 , I decided to attend University of Miami School of Law to become a lawyer . Now , after having practiced law for almost 34 years , I can honestly say that I made the right decision . I sincerely believe that a conscientious lawyer can do a lot of good in the
society .
ACR : What are some of the timeless , if not memorable occurrences that has shaped your resolve for good counsel , and why would it be beneficial sharing them with others entering the field of law ?