A naturalized U.S. citizen originally from Monterrey, Mexico, Leyva spent seven years as a compliance and threat analyst for Facebook, now Meta, and Google. Despite his success in the tech world, he found himself yearning for a career that would allow him to make a direct impact on marginalized communities. That goal led him to the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law in 2022.

鈥淚 realized that in tech, I couldn鈥檛 make the changes I wanted to see in society and help the people I wanted to help,鈥� Leyva said. 鈥淚 decided to get a law degree so I could start helping marginalized communities that need the most help.鈥�

During his time at Bowen, Leyva鈥檚 dedication to service set him apart, and the law student has spent much time providing legal services to those who couldn鈥檛 afford or didn鈥檛 have access to legal services.

鈥淥scar has distinguished himself by putting his legal skills to practice in service of human rights, including assisting a large family of Afghan refugees in obtaining permanent legal residency after they were forced to flee Afghanistan following the Taliban鈥檚 takeover,鈥� Bowen Dean Colin Crawford said. 鈥淚n this effort, Oscar helped them navigate the complexities of the immigration process, ensuring they received the protection and legal status they were entitled to in the U.S.鈥�

When the Bowen School of Law partnered with the Mexican Consulate in Little Rock, Leyva was the first Bowen student to volunteer, providing critical support to Mexican nationals and U.S. citizens of Mexican descent. He educated consulate staff on navigating the U.S. and Arkansas legal systems, connected consulate staff with local attorneys and additional resources, and educated people who visit the Consulate on topics such as wage theft, workplace rights, and cybersecurity protection.

Leyva鈥檚 service extended to Bowen鈥檚 Delta Divorce Clinic, where he worked under Professor Suzanne Penn to help indigent clients navigate divorce, custody, and child support cases. As a native Spanish speaker, he often assisted clients who faced language barriers. He also volunteers with Arkansas Access to Justice, working with lawyers to answer legal questions from people who can鈥檛 afford an attorney.

鈥淧rofessor Penn has been an inspiration,鈥� Leyva said. 鈥淪he exemplifies the importance of giving back to the community, and you want to imitate what she stands for.鈥�

Outside of his legal work, Leyva actively contributed to Bowen鈥檚 campus community. He was a member of OutLaw, the Latin American Law Students Association, Phi Delta Alpha, and the Arkansas Trial Lawyers Association. He also clerked for local law firms, gaining valuable experience in immigration, family, and criminal law as well as appellate advocacy.

Despite the rigorous demands of law school, Leyva found Bowen鈥檚 close-knit community welcoming and supportive.

鈥淟aw school is a lot of work, but it鈥檚 very fulfilling,鈥� he said. 鈥淎s a small school, we rely on each other. There鈥檚 only 115 of us in my class, and we are kind and courteous to each other. I鈥檝e made a lot of connections with people in the legal community, including members of the Arkansas Supreme Court and federal judges.鈥�

After graduation, Leyva plans to take the Arkansas Bar Exam in February and dreams of opening his own practice one day to serve marginalized communities in rural areas of the state.

鈥淚 want to help people where resources are scarce,鈥� he said. 鈥淲hether it鈥檚 immigration, family law, or criminal defense, I want to ensure people have access to justice.鈥�

For Leyva, the path to success has not been without its challenges. A survivor of child abuse and an immigrant whose first language is not English, he understands the importance of perseverance.

鈥淵ou鈥檙e going to fail, but that鈥檚 part of the learning process,鈥� he said. 鈥淲hat matters is learning from your mistakes and pushing forward.鈥�

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