As the first in his family to graduate high school, Tony García JD ‘06 was initially exposed to higher education by watching popular television shows, such as Saved by The Bell. From a small community in Centralia, Washington, where post-high school apprenticeships were more common than attending college, García not only became the first person in his family to earn a college degree, but also a law degree. Today, García continues to trailblaze as a Deputy City Attorney for the City of Portland and has dedicated his life to public service.  

After graduating from Oregon Law in 2006, he served in the Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps. Achieving the rank of a Major, García was deployed as a JAG prosecutor and oversaw investigations in Tallil, Iraq. He also ran a tax center in Schinnen, Netherlands. Currently, he volunteers on Veterans’ causes, the Oregon Hispanic Bar Association and the Georgetown Alumni Admissions Program. This past November, García spoke at Oregon Law’s annual “The Art of the Possible” conference, where 152 first-year students were encouraged to think courageously and creatively about their future careers. 

García recently talked with Oregon Law about his journey being a first -generation law student: managing imposter syndrome, achieving a life/school balance, and now empowering other first-generation students to prioritize cultivating a supportive community.  

Oregon Law: Growing up, was college ever talked about in your home? 

García: No. I learned about college from television shows like Saved by the Bell and Beverly Hills 90210.  My city, Centralia, Washington, was in a big transition trying to focus on apprenticeships and other non-college fields, so pursuing higher education was not really discussed within my school system. 

Oregon Law: When did you know you wanted to go to law school, and why did you want to get a law degree? 

García: I grew up going to court. My parents divorced, my father was an immigrant, my brother was incarcerated many times, and I was in foster care. I saw lawyers and judges as wielding tremendous power. I felt at a disadvantage, because even as a kid, I did not understand the rules, and therefore had little say in my own well-being. I watched as my family, through various court systems, were powerless. I first wanted to become a lawyer because I wanted to know the rules, and second to help my clients then navigate the law.   

Oregon Law: What was something that surprised you about law school? 

García: I was surprised at how calm law school could be. During my undergrad, I worked up to four jobs at once, played sports, and was active in social clubs. I had done the same in high school, working two part-time jobs in order to subvert the work-hour limitation for minors. When I came to law school, I was scared I wouldn’t succeed, so I only allowed myself one activity: class representative on the Student Bar Association. By taking away all the distractions, I then had time to read, brief my cases, go to all my classes and regularly meet with professors. 

Oregon Law: How do you handle imposter syndrome? 

García: I still feel like an imposter. As time has gone by, I’ve built up more confidence because I’ve been practicing long enough, and I’ve had successes to be proud of. I try to compensate feeling like an imposter by being a hard worker and putting in longer hours. 

Oregon Law: In your perspective, how has being a First-Generation student impacted your educational experience from that of students who are not First-Generation? 

García: I have more questions, and the answers allow me to approach situations with a different perspective. When I review materials that will go public, I ask about the readability, and access to information for the public. When we’re designing a program, I think about immigrants, non-native English speakers, and those from other underrepresented communities, and how the program might affect them.   

Oregon Law: What advice do you have for other First-Generation individuals considering Law School? 

García: Build your community. Focus on friendships and the people you study alongside and reach out for mentors in all phases of life: retirees, judges, experienced lawyers, junior lawyers, and nonlawyers. Learn as much as you can. I have never had someone turn me down for coffee or lunch, and I made it a point to network as much as I could while in law school. Those relationships helped me when I didn’t know an area of law, needed a referral or a reference for another position.   

By Anna Pearl Johnson, School of Law Communications