Utilizing social capital to advocate for just causes and individuals in need of representation

The law school guarantees career stability with substantial earning possibilities, remarked legal expert Margaret Montoya, J.D. ’78, during a student panel held on March 27 at Harvard Law School. Additionally, it equips learners with interdisciplinary abilities, social capital, and the opportunity to contribute to societal welfare.

Montoya, the initial Latina accepted into Harvard Law School, encouraged students to contribute by engaging with communities lacking legal representation, identifying noble causes to support, and advocating for democratic principles.

“I was posed a question just a moment ago, ‘Why would you come back to Harvard?’” stated Montoya. “I return for you … I hope that you venture out and transform the world. You can utilize the social capital afforded by a Harvard degree … It is a credential of significant value. Employ it. Return here. And assist others.”

A native of New Mexico, Montoya, now professor emerita, has served at the University of New Mexico Law School since 1992. She has instructed courses on constitutional rights, tort law, contracts, clinical legal education, and employment law, and has authored articles touching on race, ethnicity, gender, culture, and language.

Upon completing her studies at HLS, Montoya received Harvard University’s Frederick Sheldon Traveling Fellowship, enabling her to journey through Europe and Asia. Throughout the years, she has frequently returned to campus to engage with students regarding how to maximize their legal education.

During her address, Montoya likened her experience as a law student in the 1970s, when she was the sole Latina student present in the HLS classrooms, to the experiences of students today.

“When I observe you, the demographics, the social landscape are vastly different,” noted Montoya. “I came as a child from a low-income background … This is a place that educates you about influence. That is a valuable experience because to alter society, we must understand power dynamics.”

Montoya inquired of the panelists what they believed were the most significant deficiencies in their legal education. Many expressed that their courses often lacked insight into how the law impacts the lives of ordinary citizens, overlooking issues of race, social class, politics, and historical context.

“There’s a significant amount missing in the training of law students. Primarily, it’s understanding how the law affects real individuals,” remarked Liz Ross, J.D. ’21 and a Ph.D. candidate in history. “That was likely the largest void I observed during my time here … I believe compassion is absent in legal education.”

When asked by Montoya how they enriched their legal education, panelists highlighted the value of collaborating with like-minded individuals by forming study groups, participating in student organizations, and introducing new voices and perspectives into classrooms.

Montoya encouraged students to leverage their legal qualifications to support marginalized communities, champion social and racial advancements, and safeguard democracy when confronted by authoritarian threats. A law degree equips one with tools to emerge as defenders of democracy, she asserted.

“Harvard imparts social capital to those of us who are present and graduate,” Montoya shared in an interview following her address. “We can channel that social capital to become advocates for democracy. We can declare ourselves as champions of justice. Harvard Law School endows us with the social capital to employ various tools to challenge the status quo.”