Legault earned a degree in history and political science and subsequently taught at the Université du Québec à Montréal (UQÀM).
The cessation of her employment at this post caused a minor controversy in sovereigntist ranks.
The rumours were that she had conflicts with members of the Landry team, notably on the strategy to achieve sovereignty.
Perhaps her greatest moment of notoriety came during the 1995 referendum, when Liberal Senator Jacques Hébert called her a vache séparatiste or a separatist cow.
[citation needed] Hébert was roundly criticized for the sexist and insulting remark, but efforts to galvanize separatist forces around this issue were unsuccessful.