{"id":2053,"date":"2019-03-23T23:55:32","date_gmt":"2019-03-23T20:55:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/yemeniamerican.com\/en\/?p=2053"},"modified":"2019-03-23T23:55:32","modified_gmt":"2019-03-23T20:55:32","slug":"rabih-hamawi-committed-lawyer-in-service-of-community","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/yemeniamerican.com\/en\/rabih-hamawi-committed-lawyer-in-service-of-community\/","title":{"rendered":"Rabih Hamawi: Committed lawyer in service of community"},"content":{"rendered":"

YAN- Derborn<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Rabih Hamawi, like many Arab Americans, has a familiar yet unique story of overcoming challenges to reach success.
\nFrom working in the insurance industry to becoming a lawyer, he has pursued the American Dream to its fullest. Hamawi has also added community service to match his excellent work in law.
\nHamawi only takes cases related to properties damaged by floods, fires or other events. He says his work in the insurance industry has taught him insurers sometimes try to shortchange clients making legitimate claims.
\nThe lawyer immigrated from Lebanon to the US in 2003. The first order of business was to get an education. He had previously studied law in Lebanon but always aspired to be an attorney in America. He attended Henry Ford College to learn English and went on to earn a master\u2019s in financial management from Walsh College before getting his law degree from Western Michigan University.<\/p>\n

The road to success<\/strong>
\nHamawi said the road to making his dream come true was difficult, but he persisted in making it a reality.
\n\u201cI\u2019m board certified and admitted to the Michigan Bar,\u201d he said. \u201cPeople assume that I\u2019m actually a Yemeni American because of my looks.\u201d
\nHamawi told the Yemeni American News he was initially drawn to the insurance industry because it relates to \u201cevery aspect of life\u201d.
\n\u201cWhether it\u2019s health, auto insurance or business insurance, everything pretty much in the United States needs insurance. I was interested in the industry, not only because it\u2019s a great profession but because it\u2019s one of the areas where community education is needed.\u201d
\nWorking in insurance was not only about selling policies to customers and making money to Hamawi.
\n\u201cI wanted to provide a service and gain skills and experience, while educating the community about insurance matters,\u201d he said.
\nBesides his experience, Hamawi\u2019s degree in finance helps him understand complexities of business transactions. His native Arabic also comes in handy when helping Arabic-speaking customers, giving him another advantage over other lawyers.<\/p>\n

Educating the community<\/strong>
\nHamawi is on a mission to inform Arab Americans about issues that help them maneuver the system. In immigrant communities, it is vital for residents to understand the law, so they make the most of it without risking being the victims of fraud and misunderstandings.
\n\u201cI have a weekly program where I talk about the law and educate the community as well as writing a column for a law magazine,\u201d Hamawi said.
\n\u201cIn these avenues, I explain at length the law when it comes to fire and destroyed property. I always help out with community events.\u201d
\nHamawi lauded the Yemeni American community\u2019s development over the past year, pointing to an increased number of white collar professionals.
\n\u201cThe Yemeni American community had many strides in the past few years and is no longer a \u2018spectator\u2019, but a shareholder and participant in the community,\u201d he said. \u201cThe Yemeni American community now has many professionals – doctors, engineers, business owners – but I do not have any personal relationships with Yemeni attorneys.\u201d
\nHamawi said he strives to provide exceptional services to his clients. He values his clients\u2019 time and that\u2019s why he is always accessible and always return phone calls.
\n\u201cWe have more than 100 cases, and we treat every client as the only one,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

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