Garcia, a rising 3L, is pursuing a dual degree at Texas Tech Law School and will graduate in May 2007 with an MBA and a JD. After taking a course in white-collar crime, he decided specializing in this area would give him the opportunity to combine his interest in business with his desire to be in the courtroom.
When it comes to his favorite law school courses, Garcia enjoys classes that deal with oral advocacy skills, such as classes that include mock trial or moot court competitions.
"I love oral advocacy programs," he said. "I am on the national mock trial team for Texas Tech School of Law, and I am also an associate member of the Board of Barristers. I have been fortunate enough to be selected to attend an all-expense-paid trip to Seattle, WA, next month to attend a conference on trial advocacy by the Association of Trial Lawyers of America. Learning new trial techniques excites me, as well as presenting cases to a jury."
"In my opinion, as a law and business student, I feel that effective communication is critical to be successful in both law and business," he said. "I strongly advocate participation in classes designed to improve communication."
Founder and President of the Texas Tech Law School Military Association (TLMA), Garcia said he learned a lot about leadership and management through the association.
A former U.S. Marine, Garcia decided to found the TLMA because he wanted to create an association that would encourage law students who had served or were currently serving in the military to use their military experience and expertise to assist veterans. This is accomplished at Texas Tech by doing pro bono work through the law school's Center for Military Law and Policy.
"Here, I have members who outranked me in the military. Moreover, many members served in Iraq and where in charge of people lives," he said. "In the military, they intensely focus on training individuals to be leaders. In running this organization, I have found that there have been occasions when I had [too many cooks in the kitchen]. This was a challenge for me, but I handled this by capitalizing on the talented individuals I had under me. By delegating authority and allowing members to use their skills and talents, my job as president has been easy."
TLMA's three main focuses are camaraderie, outreach, and academic and military law. The members host guest speakers, organize social events, encourage pro bono work, compile a military-law newsletter, assist other organizations in helping injured and disabled veterans, and support students who have to leave for or are returning from active duty.
"With the war in Iraq, we have had many law students activated and sent off to Iraq for a year," Garcia said. "They come back to law school and need assistance getting back in focus. Our organization helps them get back in focus."
Other activities the group has planned for the upcoming year include a chili cook-off, a barbeque, physical training sessions, a mentorship program, a formal ceremony, a safety shooting and self defense class, and various community service activities.
"The students in law school are the future leaders of this country: future judges, legislators, CEOs and community leaders," Garcia said. "Participating in student organizations offers students the ability to interact with others they may not have the opportunity to meet."
Garcia, who is looking forward to interning at the Dallas County District Attorney's Office in late July, said that he learned a lot about the legal profession and the role of attorneys while working at an insurance-holding corporation before law school.
"I realized that practicing attorneys—whether in the courtroom or in an office in a corporation—are faced with ethical issues everyday," he said. "While every situation can't be contemplated or taught in a classroom, the right decision rests with the lawyers' moral values. From the lawyers I have had the opportunity to work with in the past, I believe that they are going above and beyond in their ethical responsibilities; and I don't agree with the myth that lawyers are unethical. ome of the most ethical people I know are lawyers."
