Breaking the Ice: Metro Surge challenging for MHBA president

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Serving as president of the Minnesota Hispanic Bar Association (MHBA) during Operation Metro Surge has been “the hardest thing in my career,” says Andrea C. Mejía Narváez, a commercial litigator with Sapientia Law Group.

Fielding calls seeking help for dozens of those detained could leave her feeling “helpless and hopeless.” A native of Bogota, Colombia, Mejía also has concerns personally.

“I still have a work visa,” she said. “I still have an accent. I still go to Latino grocery stores.”

Support from the Minnesota legal community and Hispanic and Latino organizations, though, “was very powerful to see,” Mejía said. “I was very proud that people were working together to help.”

Mejía appreciated the way MHBA members welcomed her when she moved to Minnesota to go to law school, with no friends or family here, motivating her to stay involved and serve in leadership. As president, she’s working to increase member participation and engagement.

In her practice, Mejía, who is licensed in Minnesota and Colombia, advises national and international clients.

Name: Andrea C. Mejía Narváez

Title: Attorney, Sapientia Law Group

Education: J.D., Sergio Arboleda University, Colombia; International Business Law Diploma, Andes University, Colombia; L.L.M. and J.D., University of St. Thomas School of Law

Q: Best way to start a conversation with you?

A: I like small groups. One-on-ones are better. I love traveling, so anything related to travel is a good starting topic.

Q: Why law school?

A: Law school was never on my mind. I came from a family of doctors, so maybe I expected to go to med school. In high school, some teachers would call me the lawyer of the class. We had a career assessment at the end of high school, and the first option was law school. I started researching law school and liked the helping aspect of it. In Colombia, your college is your law school. So, I did law school for five years after high school. After six years of practice, it is very common to do a master’s, and it’s also very common to do that abroad. My law school in Colombia had a partnership with St. Thomas. I was doing business law in Colombia, and St. Thomas has a very good business program. So, I came here for my master’s. Halfway through that, St. Thomas offered for me to continue with the J.D.

Q: What are you reading?

A: “The Unbearable Lightness of Being.” It’s a love story with a little color to it.

Q: Pet peeve?

A: Chewing with your mouth open.

Q: Best part of your work?

A: Helping a client resolve an issue. Feeling the accomplishment of being that resource for a client.

Q: Most challenging?

A: Delivering bad news to the client. But also balancing client expectations with the uncertainty of the courts, of trials.

Q: Favorite activity away from work?

A: I love playing soccer. I can play soccer every time, every day.

Q: Where would you take someone visiting your hometown?

A: I would take them to La Candelaria, up to Monserrate, a mountain in downtown Bogota. It’s a beautiful view of the city, with a little town on top with stores, food, flea markets.

Q: Legal figure you admire?

A: Justice Sotomayor. It’s powerful to be a woman on the highest court. But also, a Latina on the highest court. Of course, being a woman itself is hard. Being a woman and a Latina is harder. I hope to see more Sonia Sotomayors in higher courts.

Q: Misconception about your work?

A: That because you are in Minnesota, you cannot practice international law. That to practice international law, you have to go to New York or California or Florida. That’s not true. Minnesota has a lot to offer in international law. We can do the same work for better rates.

Q: Favorite book, movie or TV show about lawyers?

A: “Better Call Saul.” I like how it showed that Kimmy was working in big law, was very accomplished but at the same time wanted to do pro bono work, to help people.