Lawyer’s Day is celebrated in Mexico on July 12. This is a date to commemorate the work of all those who practice this profession and who work fighting to have a fairer and more equitable world for all.
It was in 1960 when President Adolfo López Mateos established July 12 as the day to celebrate lawyers. This is due to the fact that on this same date, when the Viceroyalty of New Spain was established in 1553, the first chair for the teaching of Law was inaugurated.
From then on, Lawyer’s Day was recognized as a commemorative date for the profession. With this in mind, we share with you some of the best lawyers in Mexico, and the work they do:
1.- Luis Maria Aguilar Morales
Aguilar Morales is the Minister President of the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation. He was born in 1949 in CDMX and studied at UNAM. He and he has worked as an Advisor in the Legal Department of the UNAM, and in the Secretariat of Agrarian Reform.
In 2009 he was appointed by the Plenary Session of the Senate as Minister of the SCJN, and was part of the Council of the Federal Judiciary for the period from January 2015 to December 2018.
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2.- Claudia de Buen Unna
She is the first president of the Mexican Bar Association in almost one hundred years, and has been a partner at the Bufete de Buen, SC since 1978. She is a graduate of the Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana and has a master’s degree in law from the Instituto de Ciencias Jurídicas de Estudios Superiores.
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3.- Carlos Chaurand Arzate
He studied his degree at the University of Guanajuato and has served as a senator and deputy on several occasions. He is currently the President of the Federal Court of Administrative Justice and of the Government and Administration Board of the Federal Court of Justice.
In addition to this, he worked as a professor at the University of Guanajuato and at the La Salle University.
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4.- Juan Velasquez
Known as “the devil’s advocate”, Juan Velásquez is recognized for never having lost a case, and for having defended Luis Echeverría, José López Portillo and Salinas de Gortari. Thus, Velásquez has gained fame for himself, even being honored by the Bar Association for his distinguished professional career, his argumentative capacity, and his knowledge of Mexican law.
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5.- Alonso Aguilar Zinser
Aguilar Zinser studied his degree at the Universidad Iberoamericana, in CDMX. He is currently recognized for having worked on cases defending Salinas de Gortari, former Tabasco Governor Andrés Granier, and other public figures.
He was part of the Advisory Council of the Judicial Power of the Federation and participated in the elaboration of the National Code of Criminal Procedures.
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6.- Jose Ramon Cossio Diaz
Minister of the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation, Cossio Díaz studied at the University of Colima. He worked as a professor at various universities, has written around 25 books and has participated in various investigations. In addition, he was awarded the José Pagés Llergo National Communication Award.
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7.- Patricia Olamendi
Olamendi has worked as an international consultant for UN Women, which aims to promote gender equality and empower women. She also works as a coordinator at the Organization of American States, where she seeks to eradicate violence against women, especially femicides.
Likewise, he acts as a representative of the Mexican Bar Association and promoted legal mechanisms to strengthen the defense of women as part of his national work.
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8.- Javier Laynez Potisek
Laynez works as a minister in the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation, and studied at the Regiomontana University. Throughout his career, he has served as a prosecutor, legal advisor and magistrate in the Superior Chamber of the Court. In addition to this, he works as a professor at CIDE and has published various books throughout his career.
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9.- Margarita Rios Farjat
Born in Nuevo León and a lawyer from the Autonomous University of her state, Ríos obtained the Diploma of Academic Merit along with various recognitions from legal associations. She has worked as a Judge in the Judicial Branch of the Federation and as part of the Anti-Corruption Coalition collective.
In 2019 she was elected as Minister of the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation, being one of the two women who preside over the rooms of the SCJN.
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10.- Yasmin Esquivel Mossa
Graduated from UNAM, Esquivel Mossa collaborated in the Delegations of Coyoacán, Benito Juárez and Azcapotzalco in CDMX. She was director of Political Affairs of the General Directorate of Government and served as Technical Secretary of the Finance Commission.
In 2018 she was appointed as Vice President of the Council of the National Association of Doctors in Law and in 2019 she was appointed as Minister of the SCJN, being the twelfth woman in Mexico who obtained this honor.
