[4] Neither of Lee’s parents spoke English, but they insisted that he understand the language and did not allow him to attend a Korean church for that reason.

[3] He graduated in 1997 with a Bachelor of Arts degree summa cum laude and with membership in Phi Beta Kappa.

Lee then attended Harvard Law School, graduating in 2000 with a Juris Doctor magna cum laude.

[4][7] At Wachtell, following the September 11 attacks, Lee served as second chair, deposed witnesses, and wrote briefs as part of the legal team representing real estate mogul Larry Silverstein, whose 99-year lease of the World Trade Center provided a $3.5 billion insurance policy for an act of terrorism.

President Trump nominated Lee to the seat vacated by Judge Stephen Reinhardt, who died on March 29, 2018.

[20] Lee is the nation's first Article III judge who was born in the Republic of Korea and the second Korean American to serve on the Ninth Circuit.

[21][22] In August 2020, Lee was part of a three-judge panel who held that California's "large capacity magazine ban" was unconstitutional.

[23][24] Lee is listed as an expert for the Federalist Society and has been a speaker and panelist on the topics of Food & Drug Law, Class Action lawsuits, and the Constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act.