Julia Mendoza, Class of '08

Julia Mendoza ’08 is an Associate Professor of Law at Loyola Law School, Los Angeles, where she brings an interdisciplinary lens to criminal law and education. Professor Mendoza’s book, The Miseducation of the Barrio: The School to Prison Pipeline in Stockton, California (under contract with Stanford University Press), focuses on the experience of Stockton’s Black and Latinx students to explore the historical connection between school desegregation and the school-to-prison pipeline. Previously, Professor Mendoza was a fellow at Stanford Law School and a legal fellow at the ACLU of Northern California in the Racial Justice Project. In addition to her J.D., she holds an M.A. in Human Rights from Columbia University and an M.A. and Ph.D. in American Studies from New York University.

What drew you to academia?

After law school, I pursued a master’s in human rights at Columbia University. Professor Bill Ong Hing (one of many King Hall law professors that I feel indebted to who now teaches at the University of San Francisco Law School) introduced me to Professor Patricia Williams, who was teaching at Columbia Law School at the time. Professor Williams’s writing was the reason I went to law school in the first place. The priceless opportunity of studying with her felt like a dream come true and planted a seed in my mind about the prospect of pursuing a career in legal academia. Upon finishing my program, I returned to the bay area to work in the Racial Justice Project at the ACLU of Northern California. While working at the Racial Justice Project during the day, I would spend my evenings teaching classes in the Prison University Project at San Quentin State Prison. Teaching in that program taught me how deeply powerful and transformative education can be. I also realized that I experience a special joy in the classroom.

The lessons I learned from this chapter in my life made me realize that there were stories that I wanted to tell and communities that I wanted to work alongside in a meaningful way. Becoming a legal academic felt like a path that could facilitate that.

If a student is interested in a career in legal academia, would you recommend pursuing a Ph.D.?

It depends on several factors. I think you can become a wonderful legal academic without a Ph.D. However, my doctoral education allowed me to develop qualitative research skills that have proven to be helpful. I also explored a broad range of scholarship in various fields, ranging from sociology to anthropology to history. I use scholarship from all these fields to cultivate an analytical lens with which I hope to tell people’s stories in a thoughtful way and produce research that can be helpful for movements on the ground.

What was the most surprising thing you learned while researching your book?

My book looks at how the history of desegregation provided the foundation for the growth of the school-to-prison pipeline in Stockton, a community located in San Joaquin Valley. While Brown v. Board of Education was declared the law of the land in 1954, the Stockton Unified School District did not desegregate until after the California Rural Legal Assistance sued the school district in the 1970s. Initially, I couldn’t find much historical archival material about the case. However, in the spring of 2019, I received a call from the CRLA director of litigation. She informed me that they had found about a dozen boxes related to the Stockton desegregation case. While I was elated to study the material, I was completely blown away when I saw the name of the late Miguel Méndez — a former King Hall professor. At the time, I already knew Professor Méndez was a legend as one of the first Chicano law professors in the United States. However, to see the story of his advocacy efforts in the dusty piles of litigation papers and old newspaper clippings was quite a delight.

Why did you choose to attend King Hall?

The clinics. I have had many years of schooling, but the clinical education at King Hall is by far the education I cherish the most. Professor Carter “Cappy” White (director of the Civil Rights Clinic), took me under his wing during my second year of law school and has treated me like family ever since. Cappy also taught me the valuable lesson that sometimes after a difficult jail visit, you just need to go sit on a curb and eat tacos. Professor Amagda Pérez (co-director of the Immigration Clinic) always managed to support me in thoughtful and quiet ways. Her brilliant way of being a “steel butterfly” taught me how truly being yourself is the best way to be an advocate. Professor Millard Murphy (former director of the Prison Law Clinic) taught me how to be effective in the courtroom. He also is the only person I know to this day who can rock pink Crocs and yellow mala beads at the same time! While I didn’t directly study under Professor Holly Cooper (co-director of the Immigration Clinic), I always admired her fierceness and unbridled laugh from afar. Together, the clinical faculty truly nourished my heart and soul.

What is your favorite King Hall memory?

On Sunday nights, my good friend Wajahat Ali ’07 would return home from visiting his parents. His beautiful mother frequently packed his car with vats of home-cooked Pakistani food. On frequent occasions, a bunch of us would show up on his doorstep like stray cats and devour plates of biryani, daal, and tandoori chicken. Over many cups of chai, we would watch movies, play games, talk, and laugh. Looking back, we were all going through a lot at that time. However, Wajahat taught me the beauty of how laughter and community can be deeply healing.

How have you stayed connected to King Hall?

Dean Johnson has been an unwavering mentor and advocate of my career for almost two decades now. In all honesty, I probably wouldn’t have had a career in legal academia if it wasn’t for his support. Throughout my career, Dean Johnson has always been a grounding force. When I think about the kind of mentor and teacher I want to be, he is often the first person that comes to mind.

Of what are you proudest?

I don't know if pride is the right word, but where I cultivate my joy is with my family. Maintaining a healthy family life takes work. However, during simple moments such as taking an evening walk or having my first sip of coffee, it is my partner and little one who I think about to feel deep gratitude.

Do you have any advice for current law students?

When I felt unsure about the direction of my life, my mom would often tell me, “Mija, life is like a tapestry. At this moment, you are looking at the bottom of the tapestry, where there are random strings and sloppy knots. But, someday, you will turn the tapestry over and get to see it in all its glory.” And while I don't think my “tapestry” is fully done (there are still lots of random knots!), I would love all students to know that so long as you keep moving towards the issues and communities that inspire you, eventually every moment of self-doubt will ultimately be replaced by a feeling of conviction and purpose.