For Marc Montano (JD '25), law school isn't just about earning a degree—it's about stepping into the world of decision-making at the highest levels. Before starting at DePaul Law, he worked in the government and nonprofit sectors, where he saw firsthand how law shapes industries and drives critical decisions. "I wanted to be part of that process, not just observe it," says Montano, and "becoming an attorney was the clearest path to making a real impact."
As a first-generation law student and newcomer to Chicago, Montano committed himself to "pursuing perpetual progress"—a mindset that led him to immerse himself in the legal community. He competed on DePaul's National Trial Team, earned editorial positions on three DePaul law journals, and explored both litigation and transactional law. But of all his experiences, his time with the Business Law Clinic (BLC), DePaul Law's only in-house transactional clinic where students provide legal counsel to businesses on corporate and transactional matters, stands out as one of the most transformative.
At BLC, Montano and his peers work collaboratively to craft complex, high-level contracts from scratch, each word scrutinized for precision. The experience is designed to mirror the rigor and intensity of elite corporate practice. According to Montano, "We're trained to produce premium work products—contracts and agreements built with meticulous attention to detail. Every clause matters, and we own every decision we make."
One of Montano's proudest achievements came when he and his clinic partner, Megan Schmidt (LLM '24, JD '25), helped a client secure a federal trademark after the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) initially raised concerns. As part of the USPTO Law School Clinic Certification Program, they were granted limited recognition to represent their client before the USPTO. They worked directly with the agency to explain why the trademark should be approved, and after their contention, the USPTO reversed course and granted the registration. "Opportunities like these are rare even for junior attorneys, let alone law students," says Montano. "The BLC gave us a level of responsibility that most don't get until years into their careers."
Currently, Montano is interning with the IRS, where he is exposed to corporate tax structures and criminal tax investigations—an area he describes as "a perfect intersection of law, business and high-stakes decision-making." After graduating, Montano is weighing the option of accepting a scholarship to attend Northwestern Pritzker School of Law to pursue an LLM in Taxation and further refine his tax expertise or accepting offers with private firms to practice a broader range of law.
Montano's journey at DePaul has been defined by ambition, depth and a drive to master his craft. With every challenge he's taken on, he's proving he's ready to be more than just a lawyer—he's ready to be a decision-maker.