Margaret Hilary Marshall, a prominent Boston lawyer and former anti-apartheid student activist, was yesterday named vice president and general counsel of Harvard University.

Marshall, 48, is currently a senior partner in the law firm of Choate, Hall & Stewart. She recently finished a term as president of the Boston Bar Association.

President Neil L. Rudenstine announced the appointment yesterday. "She is not only a preeminent legal practitioner, but an energetic leader of her profession and a person of extraordinary human qualities," Rudenstine said in a statement. "All of us will be enriched by her presence and advice, and we look forward with great enthusiasm to having her here."

The general counsel supervises an office of nearly a dozen University attorneys as well as oversees the police and security departments.

In an interview yesterday, Marshall said she is "excited by the prospect of serving Harvard." She said her new job will in some ways be a return to her beginnings.

"Harvard was the first home that I had when I came to the U.S. as an immigrant in 1968," Marshall said.

In 1968, the young Marshall moved into studenthousing and hit the books at the Graduate Schoolof Education, where she earned a master's degree.

Her move into the Mass. Hall headquarters ofHarvard's central administration will attract agood deal more notice. The University, serving asa very close advisor to the president.

It is in this advisory capacity that Marshallsays she hopes to follow in the footsteps ofDaniel Steiner '54, who served as general counselfrom 1971 until June of this year.

"I hope to do what did so well, which is togive advice well," Marshall said.

Marshall said that although she follows Harvardevents casually through the press, she is not yetinformed enough to comment on any pressing mattersfacing the general counsel's office. She isexpected to take office in November.

Still, Marshall's ties to Harvard are fairlysubstantial. She studied at the Education Schooland the Law School. Faculty members campuswidecall her a friend. She is married to New YorkTimes columnist and former Crimson executive J.Anthony Lewis '48 And for more than 10 years, shehas assisted with Harvard Law School's TrialAdvocacy Workshop.

For Marshall, a Cambridge resident, Harvard"feels like a close and friendly neighbor," shesaid.

Marshall said she is looking forward to workingwith undergraduates. She said she has friend,nephews and nieces at the College.

Born in Newcastle, Natal, in South Africa,Marshall served from 1966 to 1968 as president ofthe National Union of South African Students. Aspresident of the 20,000 member leftwinganti-apartheid group, she met with prominent SouthAfrican and American leaders.

Marshall said yesterday she saw no irony in thefact that she is replacing Steiner, who often hadthe job of dealing with protesters who were urgingHarvard to divest its stocks in companies doingwith South Africa.