Mayeli Soto Hernandez

Mayeli Soto Hernandez is an associate in Burke’s Oakland office where she is a member of Burke’s Public Law and Litigation practice groups. Her practice includes advising public entities on a variety of municipal law matters and litigation pertaining to eminent domain, inverse condemnation, and dangerous conditions.

Mayeli received her B.A. in English Literature from the University of California, Berkeley in 2017 and earned her J.D. from the University of California Law, San Francisco (UC Law SF) in 2025.

During law school, Mayeli was a judicial extern for the Presiding Judge, Honorable Rochelle C. East. Mayeli also served as the External Vice President for the UC Law Environmental Law Association and Staff Editor for the UC Environmental Law Journal. Mayeli additionally was a student member of the Women’s Law Society, the Latinx Law Student Association and the American Board of Trial Advocates.

Mayeli had the honor of being a student attorney at the UC Law SF Individual Representation Clinic, which provides students a start-to-finish experience litigating cases on behalf of low-and moderate-income clients in wage and hour cases. As a student, she was awarded the Clinic Outstanding Performance Award as well as the CALI Awards for Academic Excellence in Land Use Law and Advanced Legal Writing.

Prior to becoming an attorney, Mayeli worked as a legal assistant for four years in the nonprofit sector, specializing in disability rights advocacy and litigation support.

Outside of her practice, Mayeli enjoys running, lifting weights, attending concerts, and spending time with family.

Mayeli is fluent in Spanish.