Texas Border Business
By Roberto Hugo González
For Erick Franco, the path to becoming an attorney was rooted in a desire to help others and to serve as an example for those who share his aspirations. Now a graduate of Thurgood Marshall School of Law and a participant in the Zambrano Law Firm’s Legal Eagles Pipeline Program, Franco reflects on the challenges and triumphs that shaped his journey.
“The opportunity to be in a position where I could make a difference and help others was something I needed to prioritize,” Franco explained. “The idea that I could serve as an example for those with the same aspirations motivated me even more.” Choosing Thurgood Marshall School of Law, he added, gave him the environment he needed filled with diversity and with people with the same hunger to succeed as myself.”
The road through law school was anything but easy. Franco recalls that the steepest hurdle was “adapting to the amount of information and knowledge that needed to be learned in my first year.” He overcame this by creating what he described as a “tedious schedule that included longer hours of studying and reading.”
Despite the demands, Franco achieved notable success. “Among other things, I am mostly proud of being on the dean’s list for multiple semesters,” he said. But perhaps his most significant accomplishment was the degree itself: “Being able to say that I graduated with a Juris Doctor degree is a big accomplishment in and of itself.”
Support from family, mentors, and community played a crucial role. “They supported me with words of encouragement throughout my years in law school. Their endless support truly motivated me,” Franco shared. His faith also kept him grounded. “My faith in God always grounded me. I kept reminding myself that these challenges and obstacles were part of the journey, but I knew God would always be there with me.”
What also grounded him was his involvement in the Legal Eagles Pipeline Program, an initiative by the Zambrano Law Firm designed to guide students into the legal profession through mentorship, academic readiness, and direct case experience. The program allows participants to draft legal documents, prepare liability arguments, and contribute to real cases from intake to trial. “By talking to friends and other licensed attorneys, I understood more about what to expect from the legal field. I learned from them things that I personally needed to improve myself,”. Franco said lessons reinforced by the program’s structure.
His ambitions extend beyond the courtroom. “I have high expectations for myself, and I strive to be the best version of myself every day,” he said. “Whether that is in my office at the Zambrano Law Firm, or whether that is out in the community, I have intentions of improving my community and to lead by example.”
That commitment is reflected in his passion for personal injury law. “Personal Injury has always been my focus because it has allowed me to connect with people and be there for them in probably one of the most difficult times of their lives. I get a sense of joy knowing that I have positively impacted someone’s life.”
For students hoping to follow a similar path, Franco emphasized persistence. “Be persistent and believe in yourself even when no one else will. Don’t be afraid to fail and never set the bar low.”
Looking ahead, Franco is preparing for the Texas bar exam. “The next step is to become licensed in the state of Texas and to serve my community fully. I plan to learn and get better every day. I cannot wait to see when it is all said and done what my legacy will leave behind.”
Franco’s story demonstrates how the Zambrano Law Firm’s Legal Eagles Pipeline Program fulfills its mission: building the next generation of attorneys through mentorship and real-world training. Franco is not just a law school graduate—he is living proof of what the program envisions: students transforming into advocates ready to serve their communities.
