Monica Ayala-Talavera
Mentee
UC Hastings College of Law
Class of 2022
“From our very first meeting, [my mentor] listened to my professional goals and not only accepted them but told me she saw that future for me as well. It is difficult to put into words how powerful it feels to be validated in that way, especially by someone as accomplished as my mentor.”
Tell us about your interest in appellate work and why you decided to join this Mentorship Program.
As Juvaria Khan, our founder, says: The law is about words and their meaning, and who gets to shape that meaning is important because it dictates every aspect of our lives. Thus, my interest in appellate work stems from my desire to contribute my unique perspective as a Hispanic woman to the creation and perfection of the laws that govern our society. I have dedicated myself to learning how to apply the correct standard of review to the merits of the case, coherently develop the law, and create precedent that is consistent and helpful. I have also learned from the briefs and oral arguments presented by seasoned appellate practitioners. I do all of this in the hopes of bettering my skills as a lawyer and taking them forward with me as I represent my clients and my community. I joined The Appellate Project’s Mentorship Program because I needed help in creating this path but didn’t know where to start. Being the first in your family or community to do something is exciting, but it can also be intimidating. The Mentorship Program provided me with a way to expand my network to include the resources I needed to succeed.
What has it been like working with your mentor/mentee? Is there an experience you particularly enjoyed, something significant you learned, etc.?
I always look forward to my monthly meetings with my mentor. She listens attentively to my problems, answers my questions, connects me to resources, and always gives me a nudge in the right direction. From our very first meeting, she listened to my professional goals and not only accepted them but told me she saw that future for me as well. It is difficult to put into words how powerful it feels to be validated in that way, especially by someone as accomplished as my mentor. Law school can be a very challenging time, and it’s easy to lose sight of what it is that brought you to law school in the first place when you’re going through it. My mentor provided support when I needed it the most, and not only encouraged me to go for opportunities I thought were out of my reach but helped me create a strategy to achieve them. One of my favorite things to do with my mentor is to share in my accomplishments. When I received an offer for my dream summer position, she was one of the first people I texted (and I received an extremely enthusiastic response instantaneously!).
What is something you will take with you from this experience? It could be appellate-related or more broad, such as something you realized about yourself, mentorship, etc.
I leave The Appellate Project’s Mentorship Program as a more confident future lawyer. I no longer limit myself when I think about the possibilities for my professional future. I know that I have a lot to learn, but I also have a lot to bring to the table. I will allow myself to aspire to great things and although I know I may not achieve everything I put my mind to, at least I will have fun trying!
Emmaline Campbell
Mentor
California Supreme Court, Criminal Central Staff Annual Attorney
“Working with [my mentee] Monica has been a wonderful experience. She is incredibly bright, hard-working, and thoughtful about her career goals. Our conversations are always interesting.”
Tell us about your interest in appellate work and why you decided to join this Mentorship Program.
I was very fortunate to have the opportunity to clerk with the California Supreme Court’s Criminal Central Staff. This experience deepened my understanding of criminal law (both substantively and procedurally) and significantly improved my legal writing. I wanted to share my experience with a law student aspiring to take on appellate work and found the Appellate Project’s mission of improving diversity in the profession to be so important.
What has it been like working with your mentor/mentee? Is there an experience you particularly enjoyed, something significant you learned, etc.?
Working with Monica has been a wonderful experience. She is incredibly bright, hard-working, and thoughtful about her career goals. Our conversations are always interesting.
What is something you will take with you from this experience? It could be appellate-related or more broad, such as something you realized about yourself, mentorship, etc.
I have really enjoyed the chance to be Monica’s mentor and look forward to mentoring many more law students in the future. This is my first time participating in a formal mentorship program and I thought it was an excellent experience.