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The father told Liao his own personal story—that he had planned on studying anthropology and pursuing a Ph.D.
"He decided it was better to enter law, where the job market was more secure. Hearing his story, I also thought long and hard about law school as a means to attain financial security," Liao said.
When the dinner was over, a thank-you card with a $100 bill inside told Liao that perhaps the father had done very well for himself as an attorney.
Of course, financial security is not all that motivates Liao. Currently working for a law firm which specializes in helping clients with catastrophic injuries, Liao says the biggest draw for him is the underlying principle of helping those that have suffered a life-altering tragedy.
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"I have been with the firm for almost a year now and have truly been inspired by the attorneys there," Liao added. "As I mentioned before, they are some of the brightest and most hard-working individuals that I have met. The cases that they work on tend to be of the catastrophic variety (i.e. life-long disability) so each one comes with its own heart-breaking story of tragedy and sorrow. The facts and circumstances of each case drive me to work harder to bring back happiness to these peoples' lives."
Having previously interned for the San Francisco City Attorney's Office, Liao has worked on the other side of personal injury cases—the defense side rather than the plaintiff's side.
"It was an awesome experience," he said, "because I observed how cases were dealt with in the personal injury field where I already had an interest. But I soon discovered that I was more suited for the other side of things."
"Many people like to joke about personal injury and start by pointing out those commercials on TV, advertisements on the back of buses, or the term 'ambulance chaser,'" Liao said. "But I see a commendable profession dedicated to serving individuals who would otherwise be left powerless."
"It's especially commendable because of the tremendous risk involved in advocating for these individuals," he added. "It's very much empowering, knowing that you're going up against the government, large corporations, and/or insurance giants."
"I have always been driven toward helping those less fortunate," Liao said.
Born in Virginia, Liao lived in Taiwan until he completed high school and relocated to California to study at the University of San Diego. After the death of his father at a young age, Liao's mother raised Liao and his three siblings on her own, an accomplishment that does not go unappreciated by Liao.
"I think it's particularly noteworthy that my mother has had the incredible task of raising four children on her own," Liao said. "She has been very successful with that by all measures, as each one of us has been able to achieve something with our lives."
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In addition to work and studies, Liao found time to develop a passion for motorcycle riding. After taking a motorcycle safety course, Liao bought his first motorcycle on E-bay, not telling his mother in order to prevent her from worrying.
As a member of the Hypercycles Motorcycle Club, a student-run organization at the University of California at San Diego, he began participating in weekly rides. On weekend rides to the mountains along back country roads, Liao sometimes served as ride leader and was responsible for ensuring the safety of all riders.
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Several motorcycles later, while studying for the LSAT and applying to law schools, he witnessed two motorcycle accidents and temporarily gave up riding.
"I gave up riding at that point, thinking that it was just a bad sign seeing two accidents in a matter of a single month," he said. "Do I intend on returning to riding? Of course! It's just a matter of timing and money at this point. After I pass the Cal-BAR and secure a job as an attorney, then I'm going to splurge for a nice bike and go out for a long ride in the canyons."
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