Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month

This year, Touro Law Center and the Office of Diversity and Inclusion are celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month by highlighting Latinas and Latinos who are critical members of our law school community. We are proud to present representatives from the student body, the staff, the administration, the faculty, and from our alumnae. Each week of the month, we will highlight 1-2 of these individuals for your enjoyment. Happy Hispanic Heritage Month!

 

Christian Robledo
Touro Law Class of 2023
Associate, Dechert LLP

As an alumnus of Touro Law, can you tell us how your education here has served you in your career?
My Touro education provided me with a strong legal foundation which has allowed me to hit the ground running during my first year practicing law.

Which aspect of your education at Touro has served you best in your career?
Property, contract law and my experiences working in pro bono matters at Touro have helped me tremendously. However, honing my writing and critical reading skills has served me the best in my career.

What advice would you give to young law students who are Lation/a/e and about to enter the legal profession? What would you describe as a path toward success?
Be proud of your heritage and make it a part of who you are as an attorney – this can only help you in your career and inspire others to do the same. Work harder than you think you are able and always help others along the way. Turn yourself into the best version of what you think a Latino/a/e role model should be.

 

 

Vivian Connor
Research Editor, Moot Court Honors Board
President, Latin American Law Students Association
JD Candidate, May 2025

Why did you choose to study at Touro Law?
Touro Law offered me an opportunity that no other law school in New York could. Flexibility to be a law student by day, and mother by night. Flexibility was ancillary to the collaborative nature, resources, and supportive environment that greeted me at Touro Law. My professors instantly became mentors and advisors. Students helped me find much needed courage and confidence in respectful legal discourse. Engaging with LALSA in my 1L year gave me a special opportunity to meet students and share connections on a personal level. Sometimes bonding over "salsa" is all we need to inspire us and carry forward in this journey. Despite holding students to high educational standards, Touro Law fosters a unique, encouraging, and warm spirit - similar to family.

Do you know the area of law where you hope to practice? If so, why have you chosen it?
Initially, given my professional background, I considered becoming a patent attorney. I switched gears quickly when I found out I had to take additional undergraduate courses after law school in addition to sitting for the patent bar. I was fortunate to be selected as the New York City Bar Diversity Fellow and intern at BNY Mellon, my first summer. I enjoyed being in-house and working for the Enforcement and Investigations Unit. Regulatory enforcement became increasingly interesting to me. Last summer, at the New York State Department of Financial Services I was able to work on legislative bills concerning regulation of digital commodities and present on the use of personal data in models trained with artificial intelligence. This work is fascinating to me because of the research and interplay between government and stakeholders. In many forms, technology impacts certain sectors less favorably than others. I hope to study and advocate for consumer protection in our communities to identify and resolve financial inequities.

What do you think people at the Law Center should know about Hispanic Heritage Month or your heritage in general?
Hispanic Heritage Month (initially commemorated for one week) was enacted on August 17, 1988 by President Ronald Reagan as Public Law 100-402. This year federal agencies honor the theme, “Pioneers of Change: Shaping the Future Together,” in recognition of heritage, history, traditions, and cultural diversity of Hispanic Americans. My parents emigrated from the Dominican Republic in the early 1980s and settled on Long Island, leaving behind family, traditions, culture, comfort, and language in the pursuit of opportunity. The struggle and unfamiliarity of a new country could debilitate anyone from taking the leap forward, however, this struggle and unfamiliarity inculcated the grit and dedication embedded in me and many immigrant families. I am eternally grateful for this meaningful and beautiful gift.

 

Jorge Roig
Director of Neighborhood Programs and Associate Professor of Law

What is your area of academic specialty and why did you choose it?
My main areas of teaching and research are Constitutional Law, Technology Law and Intellectual Property. I have always had great interest in how human knowledge and creativity develop and flourish, and lead to new ways of addressing our problems and desires as a community. My research seeks to explore how new technologies can serve to redefine the power structures in our society, for example. I have also always been profoundly concerned with the role of the arts in shaping our social order, and how the law interacts with the expression and development of ideas.

 

You are the faculty member who serves as the Director of Neighborhood Programs. Can you tell us a bit about that program – what is its mission, who does it serve, and how can our students get involved?
The Law Center’s Neighborhood Programs seek to interact with local high schools and middle schools. Students can participate in many programs designed to create hands-on learning opportunities while providing access to legal services and knowledge for our neighbors. These include Mock Trial, Street Law, Youth Court, Courthouse Collaboration, and Know Your Rights Programs. These programs benefit high school and middle school students by giving them an opportunity to develop working and mentoring relationships with law students excited to help them to discover their potential and to flourish as human beings. We are looking to develop initiatives that will provide practical learning opportunities for law students while exposing them to the needs and, more importantly, the untapped strengths of our neighbors.

You spent a significant amount of your life in Puerto Rico, and much of your family remains there. How has your decision to come to the mainland impacted your education and your professional career?
Travel is essential. I strongly believe that we learn and grow from exploring other cultures and societies. This is especially true for extended visits or temporary residencies. Living in and interacting with different communities provides opportunities to learn new ways of thinking and participate in exciting experiences that make us more complete persons. It helps us learn about both the diversity and the universality of the human experience. It stimulates empathy and open-mindedness. It helps us maintain perspective and a more expansive view of what it means to be human. Of course, I always do come back home to Puerto Rico and my family and friends.

 

 

Jessica E. Guerrero
Administrative Assistant
Office of Career & Professional Development

Can you tell us about your role at Touro Law?

Currently, I am the Administrative Assistant for the Office of Career & Professional Development. However, I will be moving into the role of Records Specialist in the Registrar’s Office.

What are your long-term career goals?

As I plan to transition into my new role, I hope to gain more knowledge of the essential skills necessary to assist students, faculty, and administrators to ensure the security and accuracy of records.

What are some of the more important aspects of your heritage that you have incorporated into your personal, and perhaps even professional life?

My Salvadoran heritage has always been a prominent part of who I am. In my personal life, it can range from small acts like eating traditional food from my culture to attending many festivals that highlight our customs, as well as, having the opportunity to go to the Consulate and become a dual citizen. In a professional sense, it has always been a great advantage to help any native Spanish speakers get access to resources or services they inquire about here at Touro Law Center.

 

 

 

Jim Montes
Assistant Dean for Career & Professional Development and Adjunct Professor of Law

Can you tell us about your career path and why you made the decision to join Touro Law Center?
My career path has been shaped by resilience, determination, and a deep commitment to growth. I grew up in the projects of New York City, where opportunities were limited, and education was not always a priority. My father had a third-grade education, and my mother had a ninth-grade education, but they instilled in me the importance of hard work, setting goals, and having the perseverance to not let anything stand in the way of attaining those goals.

As a first-generation college and law school graduate, I faced many financial challenges, which required me to work full-time throughout my undergraduate and law school years. Balancing both responsibilities was not easy, and it took me eleven and a half years of attending the evening classes to earn my degrees. Despite the long hours and the sacrifices involved, I was driven by a desire to create opportunities for myself and for my family.

Before pursuing law, I spent approximately 20 years working as a banker, which gave me invaluable insight into the business world. Once I graduated from law school, I joined a national firm’s corporate group, where I eventually made partner. Each step of my journey has taught me the value of resilience, dedication, and the belief that, no matter where you start, hard work and passion can lead you to success. I am proud of where I’ve come from and how my experiences continue to shape my work and my outlook.

Joining Touro Law Center

After seeing both of my children graduate from undergraduate and graduate school, I decided to pursue a career that would allow me to continue my passion for mentoring the next generation of leaders. This led me to Touro Law, where I met many individuals who shared parts of my story. I wanted them to know that they were not alone and that they had someone they could reach out to whenever they had a question or an issue.

Looking back, how has being Hispanic helped or hurt your career?
Being Hispanic and coming from humble beginnings has provided me with a unique perspective that has shaped my career in ways I never could have imagined. Rather than viewing my background as a limitation, I have learned to embrace it as a source of strength and a reminder of the struggles that others may be undergoing. It has given me the ability to add a different voice to the conversation and contribute experiences that others may not have had.

My heritage has allowed me to connect with people, offering insights that broaden perspectives and enrich discussions. In a world where diversity is sometimes viewed negatively, I’ve found that being Hispanic has helped me more than it has hurt me. It has opened doors to opportunities where my experiences and viewpoint bring something valuable to the table. Just think how powerful it feels to walk into the Boardroom of a public company in the morning and command the attention of board members, and then, that same afternoon stand in front of a group of high school students in the Bronx and do the same. That is not something that many people can do; however, as people of color, we have the ability to do just that.

Looking back, I recognize that my background not only gave me the resilience to overcome challenges but also the ability to mentor and inspire others who may feel like they don’t belong. It is a constant reminder that we need to pay it forward to the next generation.

Are there any professional opportunities in which students who are Latino/a/e might have a particular interest, and if so, can you share what they are and describe how our students might learn more about them?
I do not like to box any student in any particular area of the law. I tell my Team that our job is not to crush anyone’s dreams or aspirations, or limit the areas of law for any particular group of students. Students of color, and especially first gens, may not have been exposed to the various areas of the law that may be available to them. Many come to our office with preconceived notions of what an attorney of color should be doing.

I encourage them all to keep an open mind and try to find an area of the law that they are passionate about. There are certainly consequences that come with career choices - whether they be financial, related to prestige, or reputation - but students should remain open to new ideas and listen to what truly calls them to the practice of law.