Daniel Mendoza-Jones

Principal at Mendoza Legal, Legal Officer in the Royal Australian Air Force Specialist Reserve and now cofounder of Wait Mate, a not-for-profit movement aimed at delaying smartphone use among primary school children, Daniel Mendoza-Jones is committed to viewing the practice of law as a service.

What inspired you to pursue a career in law, and how did you find your niche within the field? 

I remember being fascinated by the history and development of our legal system and how the rule of law underpins democracy and Western civilisation. I loved reading cases for their interesting language and how they provided a portal to human and societal issues over such a long time. I developed particular interests in business law and international law. I started as a graduate at Allens and founded my own practice in 2015 where I continue to focus on those aspects (as especially applied to technology, Defence industry, aerospace and security) and the international aspects in my role as a legal officer in the Air Force Reserve. 

How important do you think it is for young lawyers to find a specific area of law they are passionate about? 

It’s really important to first develop a deep interest in civics, law, legal systems and their role in society in general, rather than trying to jump straight to a narrow area of interest.

It’s only by being immersed in the history, role and potential of our legal system that a particular area of legal interest can naturally emerge and then be pursued within that broader context.

I think this is what distinguishes being a lawyer as a professional practitioner from others who use their legal training for other purposes. It’s so fulfilling and rewarding that today I can use my corporate, commercial and international areas of professional specialisation in fascinating, complex technology-related transactions and important matters relating to national security.

Can you share an experience where a mentor significantly impacted your professional journey?

A mentor once advised me that, in order to succeed in any field of endeavour, I should identify a select number of objectives and pursue those with excellence. 

‘Don’t try to be all things to all people’ has been a guiding principle of my career, influencing me to develop strong areas of legal specialisation and a successful legal practice. I was also strongly advised to see professional practice as being a service, which has influenced my style as a practitioner and my approach to volunteering my time and skills to assist not-for-profit boards and other organisations working in the public interest.

What advice would you give to current students about seeking and maintaining mentor relationships? 

It's essential. For some people, mentoring relationships develop organically as a result of existing interactions. A great benefit of spending time on campus and getting involved in clubs and activities is the chance to form mentoring relationships with other students who are a few steps ahead as well. This seems to happen less often now, probably because so much interaction has moved online. Mentoring schemes are therefore really important, especially if they match mentors and mentees based on areas of interest, personality and values.

I have benefited enormously from advice, feedback and guidance from professional mentors throughout my career that would otherwise be really difficult to obtain.

How did your education at UNSW prepare you for your career in law?

The undergraduate and postgraduate education experiences were very good, and with the benefit of hindsight, compare favourably with the classroom experience in further masters studies I subsequently completed in the United States. I particularly appreciated the small class sizes, as well as the combination of dedicated academics with other expert practitioners as part of the teaching mix. Looking back, involvement and taking leadership roles in organisations such as the Law Society, Law Revue and Law Journal were foundational experiences in advocacy, negotiation, organisation and dealing with challenging situations. All of which are directly relevant to my legal practice today. 

What motivated you to create Wait Mate, and what did you hope to achieve?

My co-founders and I are all parents of young kids. We started Wait Mate because of our increasing worry about the effects of smartphone use on children and adolescents.

We advocate for responsible and age-appropriate use of smartphones, empowering parents to delay giving their children smartphones.

We also work to raise awareness about the mental health, social, and developmental risks associated with early and unrestricted smartphone access; we support parents with resources; community engagement; policy advocacy; and we promote digital wellbeing and safer online environments for young people. The best way to understand the Wait Mate philosophy is to read Jonathan Haidt’s book The Anxious Generation, our efforts are very aligned with his recommendations.

How does Wait Mate support parents and families navigating the complex landscape of children growing up in the digital age?

The Wait Mate pledge is a voluntary commitment made by parents and caregivers to ‘hit pause on smartphones’.

Once ten parents sign the pledge in the same year at the same school, the pledge ‘unlocks’ and those parents are connected to be able to stand strong together. By delaying smartphone ownership for children, we are reducing exposure to harmful content, addictive apps, and social media pressures. There are alternative communication tools, such as basic phones, that provide for safety and contact without full internet access. We’re delighted with the progress so far. Since we launched in mid-2024, we have had enormous media coverage and nearly 14,000 pledges have been made and more than 1.800 school communities are involved (as at November 2025). At a minimum, we want all primary schools to become smartphone free.

We want our kids to have a play-based childhood with important real-world experiences to help them develop essential human social skills and resilience.