Luz E. Herrera is a nationally recognized attorney, law professor, and advocate for equitable access to legal services. Her career spans decades of dedicated practice, academic leadership, and community engagement, reflecting a lifelong commitment to social justice and empowerment for underserved populations. From her early experiences as the daughter of Mexican immigrants in California to her current role as Professor of Law and Associate Dean for Experiential Education at Texas A&M University School of Law, Herrera has consistently worked to bridge the gap between legal systems and the communities they serve.
Major Facts About Luz E. Herrera
| Fact | Details |
| Full Name | Luz E. Herrera |
| Birthplace | Tijuana, Mexico |
| Raised | Whittier, California, USA |
| Early Life | Grew up in a working-class Latino neighborhood; first in her family to attend college |
| Education | B.A. in Political Science, Stanford University (1995); J.D., Harvard Law School (1999) |
| Bar Admission | California Bar, over 20 years |
| Early Career | Practiced at corporate law firm; opened solo practice in Compton, CA (2002) |
| Non-Profit Founder | Community Lawyers, Inc. (later Community Legal Services) providing low-cost legal services |
| Academic Roles | Thomas Jefferson School of Law, UCLA School of Law, UC Irvine, Chapman University, Harvard Law School |
| Current Position | Professor of Law & Associate Dean for Experiential Education, Texas A&M University School of Law |
| Special Initiatives | Medical-legal partnership with Cook Children’s Hospital; Practical Skills Program at Texas A&M Law |
| Research Focus | Access to justice, low bono legal services, Latino legal issues |
| Notable Publications | Challenging a Tradition of Exclusion (Harvard Latino Law Review, 2002); Evaluating Legal Needs (Notre Dame Journal, 2022) |
| Awards & Honors | Partner in Philanthropy Award, Academic Leadership Award, Cruz Reynoso Community Service Award, Top 100 Attorneys in CA, “Mujeres Destacadas” |
| Judicial Ambitions | Ran for Los Angeles County Superior Court in 2024 (advanced to general election) |
| Family | Lives in Fort Worth, TX with her two children and mother Esperanza Herrera |
| Professional Focus | Legal education, experiential learning, community advocacy, access to justice |
Early Life and Background
Born in Tijuana, Mexico, Luz E. Herrera was raised in a working-class Latino neighborhood of Whittier, California. Her parents, Mexican immigrants, worked tirelessly to provide for their family – selling homemade Mexican food at the local swap meet during the day and cleaning offices at night. Growing up in this environment, Herrera developed a strong sense of responsibility, resilience, and commitment to community service.
As the first member of her family to attend college, and the first woman to do so, Herrera’s formative years instilled a deep understanding of the challenges faced by working families and under-resourced communities. These early experiences shaped her lifelong dedication to public service and legal advocacy.
Education and Academic Journey
Herrera’s educational path reflects both her intellectual rigor and her determination to break barriers. She graduated from Pioneer High School in Whittier before earning a B.A. in Political Science from Stanford University in 1995. Her academic excellence continued at Harvard Law School, where she received her J.D. in 1999 and served on the editorial board of the Harvard Civil Rights–Civil Liberties Law Review.
Herrera’s legal education not only honed her skills as an attorney but also laid the foundation for her interest in legal scholarship, clinical education, and advocacy for Latino communities. She has been a member of the California Bar for over 20 years, a testament to her professional longevity and expertise.
Early Career and Legal Practice
After law school, Herrera briefly joined a large corporate law firm but soon realized her passion lay in serving communities with limited access to legal resources. In 2002, she established her own practice in Compton, California, becoming the only Spanish-speaking private attorney in the city at that time. Her practice focused on practical legal needs for working families, including divorce, child custody, bankruptcy, probate, and real estate matters.
Recognizing the persistent gap in affordable legal services, Herrera founded Community Lawyers, Inc., a non-profit legal services organization, to provide low- and moderate-cost representation in Compton and South Los Angeles. This pioneering approach highlighted her dedication to “low bono” legal services – an entrepreneurial model designed to expand access to justice for underserved populations.
Transition to Academia
Herrera’s commitment to practical legal training and community service naturally extended into academia. She joined the Thomas Jefferson School of Law in San Diego as an assistant professor, where she created the Small Business Law Center, a transactional clinic for law students, and continued her involvement with Community Lawyers, Inc.
Later, she served as Assistant Dean for Clinical Education, Experiential Learning, and Public Service at UCLA School of Law, following teaching stints at UC Irvine, Chapman University, and Harvard Law School as a visiting clinical professor or fellow. Throughout her academic career, Herrera emphasized the importance of practical legal skills, entrepreneurship, and student engagement in community service.
Role at Texas A&M University School of Law
Herrera now holds the position of Professor of Law and Associate Dean for Experiential Education at Texas A&M University School of Law in Fort Worth, Texas. She was invited to design the law school’s Practical Skills Program, integrating clinical and externship opportunities into the curriculum.
One of her notable initiatives is a medical-legal partnership with Cook Children’s Hospital, which led to a $525,000 endowment to assist children’s families with guardianship, immigration, and other civil legal matters. Herrera’s leadership ensures that students not only acquire legal knowledge but also apply it meaningfully to serve real clients, preparing the next generation of socially conscious attorneys.
Contributions to Legal Practice and Access to Justice
Herrera’s professional focus is on closing the civil justice gap through innovative service models. She advocates for entrepreneurial “low bono” approaches that enable small-firm lawyers to provide affordable legal services while sustaining viable practices.
Her research and scholarship further illuminate the legal needs of underserved communities. In 2022, she co-authored “Evaluating Legal Needs” in the Notre Dame Journal of Law, Ethics & Public Policy, an empirical study examining how Latino residents of Texas’s Rio Grande Valley navigate legal challenges.
Additionally, Herrera serves as a special advisor to the American Bar Association’s Commission on Hispanic Legal Rights and Responsibilities, highlighting her role as a leader in Latino legal advocacy. Through service projects, training programs, and scholarship, she consistently advances access to justice for low-income and minority populations.
Notable Publications
Herrera’s publications reflect both her practical and scholarly expertise:
“Challenging a Tradition of Exclusion: The History of an Unheard Story at Harvard Law School”, Harvard Latino Law Review (2002) – Examines Latino representation in legal academia.
“Evaluating Legal Needs”, In 2022, the Notre Dame Journal of Law, Ethics & Public Policy published a study that looked closely at how people living near the Texas border access legal services.
Additional book chapters, law-review articles, and blog pieces address topics such as low bono practice, clinical legal education, and legal entrepreneurship.
Her work has influenced both the academic discourse and practical methods of delivering legal services in underrepresented communities.
Awards and Recognition
Luz E. Herrera’s career has been marked by numerous accolades recognizing her contributions to legal education, community service, and Hispanic legal leadership:
Partner in Philanthropy Award – Texas A&M Foundation, 2022
Academic Leadership Award – Hispanic National Bar Foundation, 2015
Top 100 Attorneys in California – Daily Journal, 2011
Cruz Reynoso Community Service Award – Mexican American Bar Association, 2011
“Mujeres Destacadas” Award – La Opinión, 2011
Women Who Mean Business Finalist – San Diego Business Journal, 2012
Graciela Olivarez Award – Notre Dame Law School, 2014
These honors underscore Herrera’s commitment to empowering communities, advancing legal education, and promoting equity in the legal profession.
Personal Life
While maintaining a high-profile career, Herrera remains grounded in her family life. She resides in Fort Worth, Texas, where she and her mother, Esperanza Herrera, are raising her two children. She keeps her private life discreet, focusing publicly on her legal, academic, and community work.
Her early exposure to grassroots advocacy, including experiences with the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF), inspired her lifelong dedication to serving underrepresented populations. Additionally, her experiences during the 1992 Los Angeles civil unrest shaped her understanding of the societal impact of legal inequities.
Judicial Ambitions and Civic Engagement
In 2024, Herrera ran for a seat on the Los Angeles County Superior Court, highlighting her commitment to bringing community-focused perspectives to the judiciary. Although she did not win, her campaign emphasized her dedication to legal aid, public service, and justice reform, reflecting her ongoing civic engagement.
Legacy and Impact
Luz E. Herrera has become a central figure in the legal and academic community, recognized for:
Innovative legal service models that expand access to justice.
Clinical legal education that equips students with practical skills.
Latino legal advocacy through research, publications, and advisory roles.
Community engagement that addresses real-world legal challenges.
Her story reflects the transformative power of education, mentorship, and dedication to social justice. By blending scholarship, practice, and advocacy, Herrera exemplifies the potential of law as a tool for community empowerment.
Conclusion
Luz E. Herrera’s career embodies a rare combination of professional excellence, academic leadership, and unwavering commitment to the community. From humble beginnings in Whittier, California, to shaping legal education at Texas A&M University, Herrera has consistently worked to empower others through law. Her contributions to legal practice, education, and service continue to inspire new generations of lawyers to combine skill with social responsibility.
FAQs About Luz E. Herrera
Q1: Where did Luz E. Herrera grow up?
A: She grew up in Whittier, California, in a working-class, predominantly Latino neighborhood.
Q2: What is her current role?
A: She is Professor of Law and Associate Dean for Experiential Education at Texas A&M University School of Law.
Q3: What non-profit organization did she found?
A: Herrera founded Community Lawyers, Inc., providing low-cost legal services to underserved communities in Compton, California.
Q4: What awards has she received?
A: Her awards include the Partner in Philanthropy Award, Academic Leadership Award, and the Cruz Reynoso Community Service Award, among others.
Q5: Did she ever run for a judicial position?
A: Yes, in 2024, she ran for a seat on the Los Angeles County Superior Court.
Q6: What is her focus in legal education?
A: She emphasizes experiential learning, clinical education, legal entrepreneurship, and serving low-income communities.
