In 2009, STCL Houston alumnus Lane Mears ‘97 was living what he would call a comfortable life. He had established a solid career as a civil litigator, he was active in his community, and he and his wife, Anna, were raising their young family in the suburbs of Austin. But Mears felt called to do something different.
“Litigation practice is important work,” he said. “I was proud of what I was doing, and I recognized that often we were protecting people’s livelihoods. But I was restless. It just didn’t stir me.”
That summer, an opportunity for a major change presented itself. A friend introduced Mears to International Justice Mission, a non-governmental organization that partners with local justice systems around the world to combat human trafficking, seek justice for victims, and strengthen the rule of law in global societies. The organization often hires experienced lawyers who are open to living and working overseas on these gritty and important issues.
After further research and family discussions, the Mearses relocated to Nairobi, Kenya for a yearlong assignment. There, Mears collaborated with Kenyan attorneys to design and implement a system for analyzing and prioritizing child sexual assault and illegal detention caseloads to maximize the organization’s impact with limited resources and personnel.
“Kenya has excellent lawyers and law schools, and I was working with some incredible teams of practitioners,” said Mears. “What I brought to the table was a Western approach. Our team encouraged the local attorneys to fight these cases more aggressively and try methods that, culturally, may not have come naturally to them.”
As a member of USAID’s Democracy & Governance Office, Mears partners with foreign governments to strengthen the ability of police, prosecutors, judges, and social workers to prosecute violent crimes and provide care for victims of such crimes. In his first post of El Salvador, this meant launching creative campaigns to discourage youth from joining gangs, training community organizers on best practices for combatting human trafficking, and building partnerships with senior-level government leaders.
Currently, Mears is in Zimbabwe, where the 2017 military ouster of long-time president Robert Mugabe has increased distrust in politicians and law enforcement.
“When I first moved to East Africa, I realized how much I had taken for granted as an American,” Mears recalls. “The U.S. justice system is far from perfect, but the security we have in our legal system is unmatched anywhere in the world. It certainly has given me some perspective.”
His unique experiences also have given Mears a deeper appreciation for his legal education at South Texas College of Law Houston.
“The skills I developed at South Texas — the framework for critical thinking, problem-solving, persuasive writing, and verbal communication — translate to every culture. The training I received is fundamental to engaging with those in power and fighting alongside others who have the same goal: for rule of law to reign.”
