Page 23 - Dallas Vol 6 No 1

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Keep a good perspective. Remember what is truly important in life,
tions like Girls Inc., MALDEF, and the Texas Book Festival. I would advise a newly licensed attorney to remember a career is more like a marathon than a sprint (I’m not a runner but I do like that metaphor!)
AALM: How do you work to maintain bal- ance between your home life and work life?
Montoya: Family has always been central to my foundation, and fortunately, I still have my parents in my life. Spending time with my family, has been essential to balancing my work life – whether with the law, government, education, and nonpro ts. Catching a movie, going out to dinner, or attending a Dallas Mavericks game. Recognize work is impor- tant, but family is forever.
AALM: How important is culture when se- lecting the law rm you work with?
Montoya: It is tremendously important to work in a setting that is educational, a rm- ing, and inspiring. Dallas has a wonderful le- gal community, with an abundance of lawyers from all backgrounds and elds. When I rst joined Akin Gump as an associate, I looked around the rm, and realized I was surround- ed by people I was proud to call colleagues.
AALM: What aws do you see in the legal community? How would you recommend that they be improved or eradicated?
Montoya: I do think the legal community places a tremendous amount of pressure on young attorneys. And for those like me (the rst in their family to graduate law school), they can feel isolated, worried, and fearful. I think there are opportunities for rms to pro- mote internal programs to alleviate some of that stress.
AALM: What is one experience you believe is essential for every attorney to experience?
need all around us, within our eld, commu- nity, or neighborhood – students who might have been the rst member in their family to attend college, or law school. Sharing with them experiences, supporting and helping them navigate through this legal terrain, can impact and shape their perspective and expe- rience as a future lawyer.
AALM: Would you encourage attorneys to become involved in legal associations? Where or how do you believe their involvement would be most bene cial?
Montoya: Yes, all attorneys bene t be- ing involved in legal associations. Being a co-founder of the Attorneys Serving the Community annual luncheon, and the funds raised for so many deserving nonpro ts has been humbling. Additionally, being involved with the Dallas Bar Association and Dallas Hispanic Bar Association, has resulted in con- nections and lifetime friendships, which has been fundamental to developing personally and shaping my career professionally. A lot of these organizations have had such an impact on our city, that, as an attorney, I feel indebted I was able to work so closely with these bar associations.
AALM: How do you stay in touch with past and current clients?
Montoya: In the past, I have always tried staying in touch with past and current clients through calls and letters. Now with new tech- nology, keeping in contact with both, I have more options to do so. Especially digital tech- nology, websites like LinkedIn and Facebook, o ers a plethora of opportunities to open new channels of communication, more than ever before, while feeling a part of clients’ profes-
and how they can impact their community, even
in the smallest of ways.”
Montoya: Mentoring a student and expe- sional and life milestones, and making new riencing the power of mentorship. ere is a connections.
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