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Monty Lord (Law 2023) describes himself as “a multi award-winning change maker, social entrepreneur and researcher dedicated to challenging injustices through the use of law”. That is just the introduction to his LinkedIn profile – the detail is even more impressive.

Monty holds five Guinness World Records for world memory challenges, has founded a charity (Young Active Minds) and company (Young Legal Eagles), and has authored 12 books to date, including a best-selling fictional novel penned at the age of seven.

He has been honoured by royals and politicians, delivered TedX talks, and presented at the United Nations.

Even before matriculating to read Law at Gonville & 91ֱ�� College and the University of Cambridge, Monty was practising it. Monty had just begun his A-Levels at Runshaw College near Preston, following his secondary education at St Joseph’s RC High School in Horwich, near Bolton. Using his A-Level textbook and representing himself and five others, Monty took senior officers of Preston Sea Cadets to court over allegations of bullying and homophobic behaviour. Monty collated 300 pages of evidence and the case was settled out of court, with damages in the region of £1,200 for the claimants.

“It was quite a challenge to actually take it to court itself,” Monty says. “I had only just started A-Level Law at this point and I hadn't covered any of the stuff I needed to. I had to compile a massive 300-page evidence bundle, submit it, and it went from there. It was something I was passionate about.”

Monty’s prodigious output began with memory challenges which led to five world records in 2019 to 2021. He became the youngest Briton with the most world records: recalling book titles from their opening lines; identifying 10 books by their main characters; the most books by their main characters in 60 seconds; naming the most films by images of characters in 30 seconds; and, identifying the most Star Wars characters from quotes in 60 seconds.

“I always forget the actual titles of the world records – ironically, because it’s to do with memory,” Monty says. “Memory is like a muscle, you have to train it. I did an online Harvard Course aged 14, and then thought what are the limits of my own memory? What can I do to challenge my memory to the highest level?”

Monty believes his feats of memory supported his learning at GCSE and A-Level, but his degree features open book assessments to replicate lawyers’ work. Like many aspiring lawyers, Monty is keen to further the greater good. While not wishing to disparage others who choose to do so, he has no intention of seeking a commercial or corporate role.

He spent the summer on an internship with Woods International in Alabama, United States, looking at cold case reviews, assessing evidence of prisoners currently serving life who continue to protest their innocence. With his case of a prisoner sentenced to death over 30 years previously, Monty found no basis for an appeal. The internship saw Monty follow the path of his College ‘dad’, Seb Gentile (Law 2022).

Monty has long helped people. Aged 14, he founded the UK registered charity Young Active Minds to inspire new, fun and effective learning activities using my memory techniques. He is chair and charity trustee. 

“Memory is not really inherent, it’s something you can work at,” Monty adds. “I thought if I can help people work at it and maybe do better in their exams, and get more people from underprivileged backgrounds going to university…”

Young Legal Eagles stemmed from Monty’s experience with the Sea Cadets case, teaching children the law and their legal rights and human rights.

He was recognised for services to community and charity with the Platinum Champion Award by The Queen, the Prime Minister’s Points of Lights Award, the Diana Award and the British Citizen Youth Award after engaging thousands of children across several schools in ground-breaking research.

Given his list of achievements to date, external expectation may be heaped on to Monty. He plays down that idea.

“I don’t really think about that. I just do my own thing,” he adds. “You can only focus on things you can control. You can’t put pressure on yourself, you can only do your best.”

Monty, a , rowed for much of his first year before the early mornings took their toll. He moved to 91ֱ�� AFC, playing football in the third team as ‘Bolton’s Messi’ (“more like (Emile) Heskey,” he says). And Monty is keen to be more involved with Cambridge Human Rights Law Society.

“I really hate not being busy – I always like having something to do,” Monty adds.