It was August 2007. Twenty-four-year-old Jacob Goad was shooting pictures of San Clemente Church in Ica, Peru. After a massive earthquake struck the region, the church’s roof caved in, killing several people.
His photos helped the World Council of Churches raise a significant sum in disaster relief for Ica from around the world. “I learned that life is so short. We need to be here for each other. We’re so interconnected across all the countries of the world, and we need to be caring for humanity,” said Goad.
The bilingual Goad spent a total of four years in Peru doing everything from helping translate for American dentists with tooth extractions to advocating for children being poisoned by a US-owned smelter.
The time spent in Peru informs his personal injury and workers’ comp practice in Durham. Many of his clients are from Mexico, Central and South America and work in construction, manufacturing, service industries, or on farms.
A graduate of NCCU University School of Law, his primary focus is on workers’ compensation. “I’m doing the claim from its inception to make sure clients get the medical and indemnity benefits to which they’re entitled. These cases can lead to third-party cases involving negligence, that is, essentially a tort claim on top of a workers’ comp claim,” explained Goad.
Risk Awareness
Sometimes undocumented workers avoid filing claims for fear of broader consequences. “Under the NC Industrial Commission’s statutes, anyone who is an employee under the law can ask for the benefits that they’re entitled to without regard to their status,” said Goad. “There are risks that are inherent to the person showing up at a courthouse. It’s our job as attorneys to make our clients aware of those risks and ask if they’d like to proceed, and most do.”
Goad is the immediate past chair of the NC Advocates for Justice’s Hispanic/Latino Legal Issues division. He spoke at this year’s NCAJ convention in Charlotte.
“My mission was to make sure attorneys were aware of the risks that exist when we are presenting their cases in court. I’m keeping my ear to the ground with immigration and criminal practitioners.”
Culture is Cool
Goad’s practice is the beneficiary of his time in South America. “Having been a legal permanent resident of Peru, I have cultural context and the innate ability to identify with someone who’s living here as a stranger in a strange land or someone who has been here for 20-30 years.”
“I understand that all Hispanic cultures are not the same. There are subcultures within cultures, so I can relate to their whole family,” said Goad. “I appreciate who they are, so they know that I care about them and think their culture is cool. Being a listener, getting the vibe, and gaining a client’s trust is very important to me.”
Law Students Are the Future
The day of our interview was the first day for Goad’s summer intern from NCCU Law. Goad was the lead sponsor of a Durham County Bar Association fundraiser earlier this year that raised almost $23,000 for law school scholarships, including the Adam Lischer Memorial Scholarship. “Law students are the future of the legal profession. We have an obligation to look out for them. I want to make sure the youth of the legal profession know that they’re supported and have good mentors who stand for the rule of law.”
