Mia Perez-Arroyo, Esq.
Mia Perez-Arroyo, Esq. is a nationally recognized judge, civil rights attorney, and medical malpractice and employment litigator known for high-impact trial work and systemic advocacy for Indigenous, disability, and workers’ rights.
She began her legal career in 1999 after graduating from UCLA School of Law and passing the California Bar on her first attempt. That same year, she joined the California Department of Justice as a Deputy Attorney General in the Criminal Appeals, Writs, and Trials Division. Early in her career, in the wake of the Columbine school shootings, she successfully litigated a precedent-setting constitutional case addressing school searches and reasonable suspicion. Her legal reasoning was adopted by the California Supreme Court and later included in academic materials, shaping statewide standards governing student safety and civil liberties.
In 2000, she was recruited into the Department of Justice’s elite Health Quality Enforcement Section — historically reserved for the most experienced trial attorneys — becoming the youngest attorney ever appointed to the unit based on demonstrated legal aptitude and courtroom skill. From 1999 to 2019, Perez-Arroyo served as a Deputy Attorney General. She held the formal title of Lead Prosecutor in the Health Quality Enforcement Section from 2006 to 2010, directing investigations and overseeing complex prosecutions involving hospitals, medical institutions, and licensed healthcare professionals. In 2004, she was formally recognized by the California Attorney General for outstanding prosecutorial excellence.
In 2019, Perez-Arroyo transitioned from public service to private practice and founded The Law Offices of Mia Perez-Arroyo, where she represents plaintiffs in complex medical malpractice, employment discrimination, civil rights, and professional negligence actions. Drawing on two decades of institutional litigation experience, she brings prosecutorial rigor to cases involving healthcare systems, large employers, and public entities.
She currently serves as Chief Judge and General Counsel for the Texas “Yorimea” Band of Yaqui Indians, advancing tribal sovereignty, cultural preservation, and economic development. Through her firm’s structured apprenticeship program, she mentors emerging attorneys, including a trainee who has successfully passed the California First-Year Law Students’ Examination after several years of supervised training.
Driven by a long-term vision of economic empowerment and land recovery, Perez-Arroyo continues to combine courtroom advocacy, judicial leadership, and legal education in service of community-centered justice.
• University of California, Los Angeles - School of Law - JD
• Featured by Attorney General in 2004 for Best Work
• California Bar Association
• Volunteer work for tribe as Chief Judge and Tribal Council Member
What do you attribute your success to?
Mia attributes her success to meticulous preparation, perseverance, seizing early opportunities (notably an early appellate victory that changed law), and proving herself through demonstrated work rather than asking for a seat at the table.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
She reflected on their most notable achievement, which was changing California law regarding school searches after the Columbine Massacre, leading to a successful career as a lead prosecutor. The conversation highlighted her unique position as a woman of color in law enforcement and her ongoing efforts to inspire future generations of diverse legal professionals.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I want young women, especially those from diverse or underrepresented backgrounds, to see that their identity isn't an obstacle. I never asked for space or a seat at the table - I had to earn it. It was at least a decade before I went up against another female in my area of law. It was male-dominated and still is, but I put my foot through the door and they can't keep me out anymore. Just because something hasn't been done before doesn't mean you can't do it yourself. I won't take no for an answer, and people underestimate me, which motivates me further. I'm trying to be a good role model for members of my tribe and my communities at large. I just want to see more women out there doing what I've done. Work hard and never give up. There were trails I had to blaze on my own, and now I'm hoping that other women, other women of color, will have the same opportunities that I had.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge is being in a male-dominated field. It was at least a decade before I went up against another female in my area of law. It was male-dominated and it still is. When I interviewed for the Health Quality Enforcement Section, they told me 'we don't normally do this' and that I was a gamble in their eyes as a woman and the youngest woman at that. But I put my foot through the door and they can't keep me out anymore. I'm still moving forward despite being told no. A lead prosecutor doesn't always have one look - they can look like me and be even more prepared than who they had in my position previously.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Ethics and integrity are very important to me. Even though I'm no longer a lead prosecutor at the DOJ, I still hold that integrity. I have to have everything very precise and I'm very big on preparation. I'm committed to representing people who were discriminated against or were not given their day in court or suffered negligence in a medical capacity. Whatever it is, in any way that people have been harmed, it's personal for me to help because I was a client myself at one time early in my career. I'm trying to leave a legacy and reach and change systems and leave them stronger than I found them. It's bigger than myself at this point - I'm just using the tools and the skills that I gained to help my community and my tribe. I want to balance work and fun, which is why I always felt like I needed to keep that theatrical part of me busy with singing and performance.