In this interview, we speak with Alexandra Gómez, an alum of CEA CAPA’s Wrongful Convictions & Human Rights program, an accelerated four-week summer program in London. Directed by law professor Justin Brooks, co-founder of the California Innocence Project, the program allows students to study human rights with a specific focus on wrongful convictions. Read on to learn more about Alexandra’s experience in the program and how it helped shape her future studies and career path.  

Please tell us a bit about yourself. 

I’m the daughter of Cuban immigrants, and was born and raised in Miami, FL. I attended the University of Florida for college, where I double majored in English & criminology and minored in sociology. While at the University of Florida, I served as a research assistant in the LEAD Psychology & Law Lab and published my thesis on the “Use and Misuse of the Death Penalty as a Bargaining Chip in Plea Agreements.” I also actively participated in the university’s national mock trial team, volunteered with the local Child Advocacy Center, and served on the board of the Hispanic/Latino Affairs Group at the university. 

Alexandra on Abbey Road 

Upon graduating from the University of Florida, I attended Duke Law School, where I married my interest in criminal justice with my newfound passions for data privacy rights. While at Duke, I conducted research on artificial intelligence, data scraping, privacy, and emerging technologies. I also served as the President of the Latin American Law Student Association (LALSA) and the Membership Editor of the Duke Law Journal. I also volunteered with the local Innocence Project Chapter and even completed course work as part of Duke’s Wrongful Convictions Clinic.   

Alexandra at Tower Bridge 

Why did you choose to study abroad, and why did you choose the Wrongful Conviction program in London specifically? 

I had always heard great things from classmates who had completed study abroad programs. I knew that I wanted a very specific experience from studying abroad: I did not want to have my college experience merely copy and pasted into another country, and instead hoped to interact with students from other universities with differing experiences and fields of study. Furthermore, I was excited when I found a program which focused on my academic interests, namely exoneration work and international comparisons of criminal justice systems.  

Exploring the city 

Please tell us a bit about your academics in London. What stands out to you from the courses you took?  

We were enrolled in both a wrongful convictions course and a global human rights course. Each of these classes were different than any other class I had taken during university. The class sizes were small and created an intimate environment wherein each student could ask each other questions and learn from one another’s experiences. The subject matter was interesting and, at times, controversial, often sparking debate and discourse. 

How were you able to connect your academics abroad with your experience of the city itself? 

As part of the Human Rights seminar, we visited Parliament and watched ongoing policy debates. During our Wrongful Convictions class, we would visit the University of Greenwich and meet with their local Innocence Project chapter to discuss policy and potential case outcomes. Both of these experiences, along with various other excursions, allowed us to feel connected to the city.  

Wrongful Convictions Class at Greenwich University Innocence Project 

Were there any other aspects of your program that were particularly impactful? 

I loved that the group of students all shared a common interest in criminal justice and wrongful convictions, and yet expressed those interests differently. While a group of us were interested in the subject because we wanted to pursue careers as attorneys, other students were interested because they wanted to work in forensics or law enforcement. These different perspectives were crucial in our learning. 

The program also gave me life-long friends: a couple of us even wound up applying to law schools at the same time and have constantly kept in contact about our law school struggles and plans.  

Alexandra (right) pictured with classmate Alex at Wembley Stadium for the Manchester City v. Liverpool Game

You recently graduated from Duke Law School. Congratulations! How did your time abroad help shape your academic and career goals and lead to your next steps? 

Thank you! I had always dreamt of pursuing a career in the legal field and was excited to have the CEA CAPA program be a steppingstone in that endeavor. While participating in the program, I got to learn first-hand from Justin Brooks about what it was like to work in the criminal sector. In class, he provided a broad overview of the bases for securing an exoneration. Although I did not focus my time during law school exclusively on criminal law, many of Professor Brooks’s lessons stuck with me and I always retained my passion for exoneration work.  

Classmates on excursion to Stonehenge 

Do you have any other favorite memories from your time abroad with CEA CAPA? 

Although I completed the study abroad program almost exactly five years ago, I still vividly remember my experience at the Clink in Brixton Prison. When I returned from London, I took a “Sociology of Poverty” class at the University of Florida and completed my term paper on the impact that employment programs like the Clink have on recidivism rates. Visiting the Clink remains one of the highlights of my trip.  

Classmates after visiting the Clink in Brixton 

What advice would you give future students considering completing a study abroad program like the Wrongful Conviction one?  

Don’t be afraid of being the only one from your university and don’t be nervous about trying something new!  

Classmates on an excursion to Bath 

What are your future plans now that you’ve graduated from law school? 

I’ve accepted a position as a first-year associate at a “Big Law” firm. 

Alexandra at Duke Law Graduation 

Thanks, Alexandra!