Honors College Alumnus of the Year Sagar Raich knew for certain he was headed for a legal career after minoring in business law while pursuing his undergraduate degree at UNLV. But his passion for the law — and, specifically, his desire to help those who can’t navigate our justice system themselves — took root years earlier.
“My grandfather was an attorney who fought for civil rights in India and gave voices to those who otherwise would suffer from an uneven justice system,” Raich said. “Seeing my grandfather and the lives he changed for the better gave me a tremendous respect for the law.”
After completing his undergraduate studies and earning a bachelor's in business administration in 2010, Raich immediately began the process of following in his grandfather’s footsteps by accepting an offer to attend the . While he had other law school options, Raich chose to return to his alma mater in large part because he knew he wanted to practice law in his home state.
Today, after graduating in 2013, he is doing just that as managing partner of his own firm, . Besides working with clients who have business-related legal needs, Raich has experience in litigation, real estate, and related fields. As much as anything, though, Raich is committed to lifting up his community, whether it’s through pro bono legal work, serving on committees for food bank, or being one of the founding directors of Nevada Homeless Integration Services, a nonprofit.
What’s the biggest misconception people have about the legal industry and/or attorneys?
That they need a lawyer only when something goes wrong — and that when something does go wrong, it will cost them a fortune to resolve the issue. Our firm represents so many clients who come to us before anything happens so that we can make sure nothing goes wrong. So it can be extremely beneficial to seek an attorneys’ advice (many offer free consultations) before entering into a contract, deal, transaction, or even a lawsuit. And if something does go wrong, it’s important to find an attorney who understands your position and works with you to resolve the matter at a reasonable cost.
What advice do you have for today’s UNLV students as they try to navigate our changed world?
It’s imperative — now, more than ever — that UNLV students engage the Southern Nevada community after graduation. As alumni, it’s our duty to give back to the community that made our education possible in the first place.
Also, in our ever-changing world, it’s important that we take care of those who aren’t as fortunate as us. From volunteering with various charities and nonprofits to assisting individuals with free/low-cost services, all UNLV students should give their time to support our community so that the positive-feedback loop of education-investment-education continues into the future.
