We pride ourselves on bringing together a diverse and powerful group of team members. And, while we share core values and a passion for social justice, we’re made even stronger by the diverse thinking, expertise, and lived experiences that each person brings to the team.

This blog series is designed to help you get to know each of them!

Meet Arezoo Taef

Arezoo Taef is a passionate advocate for justice with a remarkable journey. Born in Iran, she fled persecution with her family, seeking asylum in Turkey before immigrating to the United States at 18. In 2006, she graduated from Hamilton College with a B.A. in Women’s Studies.

For over a decade, Arezoo has dedicated her career to representing underserved and marginalized communities, drawing from her own experiences to champion human rights through the legal system. She values honesty and commitment in all aspects of life. Outside work, she’s a devoted wife and mother of two, finding solace in cooking and reading.

What attracted you to work at May Jung?

AT: An outstanding group of women who want to fight for justice for the underprivileged and people who really cannot afford hiring an attorney or some don’t know their rights.

What’s your why? What–or who–motivates you everyday?

AT: What satisfies me and motivates me is when I know at the end of my workday, what I did, even if it was very small, was effective and may change lives, even if it was a drop from the ocean of all we could accomplish for each client we represent.

What is a childhood experience that helped shape who you are today?

AT: I have an older sister who has a mental disability. Most of the time, when we had to take public transportation, people made fun of her and laughed at her. I always had to speak up and tell them that just because she has a disability does not mean she should be treated differently. She is one of God’s beautiful creations and she must be treated kindly and with love. Most of the time people would still be very unfriendly to us and throw things at us or push us around, but as a kid, especially being a girl, I couldn’t do much.

Is there a personal experience or a specific moment that clarified your passion for working in law?

AT: We escaped Iran because of the persecutions against the Baha’is. When we immigrated to the State, I went to Hamilton College and majored in Women’s Studies. My courses really opened a new world for me. I didn’t know about all the rights that I had and were taken away from me.

Also, I didn’t know about all the prejudices and injustices around the world for different reasons—race, class, gender, religion—and to my surprise, so much was happening right here in America, where we thought it was the “land of freedom. With my background, and past experiences, I was able to connect to so many of the events and books and the people I was learning about. It was then that I realized that what happened to me and the difficulties I went through helped me, shaped who I am today.

I wanted to use my past as a gift to help others who are in the same situation or even worse—help them to see that there is a better world out there for them and that they, too, deserve to live a free and good life. And that we were all created by one God and color, race, gender, or religion, do not make one human better than another.

Is there a specific case or project you’ve worked on that had a profound impact on you personally? Why did it resonate with you?

AT: I worked on Talcum powder (mass tort) cases for more than 3 years. Many of our clients had ovarian cancer and some had lost their hair, were very weak, and had recurrence. We even had a few clients that passed away while we were still representing them. It was sad to see how these big corporations targeted low income, and specific races and populations of color to sell their products, which they knew was unsafe and dangerous to use and caused cancer. All of this is happening right here in America, the first world.

In your opinion, what sets May Jung apart from others in the field?

AT: Their willingness to hear and represent clients that their very simple rights taken away from them by the powerful and hierarchy. May Jung has taken the case—they may not make much money (as attorneys) but they know they have brought justice. They hold press conferences where everyday-people can see them on the news, social media. If they believe their rights have been taken away from them, they have the choice to call the firm and be heard.

How would you define the idea of social justice?

AT: Everyone deserves equal social, economic and political opportunities. There is no greater race, color, gender or class.

What values shape the way you approach your work?

AT: Respect, honestly, humanity, working at a place where everyone genuinely cares for ‘is’others’ wellbeing.

Beyond your professional role, what are some personal interests or passions that influence the way you approach your work?

AT: I enjoy caring for people, hearing about their difficulties and just being a shoulder for people who need mental support. I try to connect with them and share my life and family with my clients to show them I am no better than them and that they are valuable to me. They are more than clients to me. They are like my family.

What are some of your hobbies or interests outside of work?

AT: I LOVE Cooking, LOVE reading non-fiction, books based on true events and true stories, (hard cover, not electronic), memoir, and child education

What’s something about yourself that doesn’t show up in your bio?

AT: I love planning big events, fundraising, weddings, big parties. Even though it is very stressful to have everyone on the same page and a lot of begging people (when it comes to doing something for free especially), there is so much joy at the end result for me.

Are there any specific areas of law that you’re particularly passionate about? How does that passion shape your work?

AT: I have done mass tort and Personal injury cases. I have enjoyed working closely with clients, hearing their stories, talking to them when they need to, making sure they are okay and that they can feel comfortable with our office/ attorney and staff, that we are there for them to bring justice to victims.

What do you hope to achieve or contribute to the legal field during your career?

AT: I would like to work with like-minded, caring and respectful colleagues who have the same goal as mine, to help people and hear unprivileged people who truly need a hand and give them a voice to be heard. It is very important for me to be able to be humble and yet know my grounds when to fight and what is worth fighting for.

If you had unlimited resources to solve one societal challenge, what would it be and why?

AT: Unequal educational opportunities

If you could discover the answer to one question, what would you ask?

AT: Why for some people it is always a hard life, full of challenges, and some just live a good life and it always seems to be easy for them! Where is the reward? Fairness?

If you could have a meal with any living person, who would you choose and why?

AT: My family (my parents, sister, my husband and my children, love them all)

Imagine yourself in 20 years. What’s something meaningful you want to have achieved?

AT: Being able to afford paying for my kids to go to college and to get a good education without being in debt for 20 more years to come! I want to be a proud parent that I was able to give all I could to my children to be good and useful members of their community and that they can change lives as well.

What’s the biggest opportunity for the May Jung team to seize?

AT: Become a good, trustworthy, and valuable paralegal/ assistant/ team player, and to work genuinely to meet the true goals of May Jung. Every person is good at something and knowing what I can bring to the table is also as valuable as others, and motivates me to improve and feel home.