Ms. Alvarez brings more than 30 years of legal and consulting experience including serving as the Cook County State’s Attorney (Chicago, IL) for eight years. In her capacity as State’s Attorney, she managed the second largest prosecutor’s office in the nation with over 1,500 employees and an annual budget of approximately $100 million. Ms. Alvarez oversaw all legal and administrative activities, as well as the criminal prosecution of all felony and misdemeanor cases. Additionally, she served as Chief Legal Counsel for all matters related to county officials in their official capacity. Her extensive experience includes the investigation and prosecution of public corruption, financial fraud, and violent crimes.
In her tenure as State’s Attorney, Ms. Alvarez created the Cook County Regional Organized Crime Task Force (CCROC) as a public/private partnership to combat financial schemes such as fencing, identity theft, money laundering and bank fraud. This task force was the first of its kind in the nation and created a unique collaboration between law enforcement and retailers. Additionally, in 2010, she established the first ever Human Trafficking Unit focused on combating human trafficking both in the sex trade and the labor market. This led to the creation of the Cook County Human Trafficking Task Force which is comprised of state and federal law enforcement as well as social service providers. This task force has become the model for the country.
Ms. Alvarez also established a legal consulting business where she primarily advised clients on criminal matters and trial strategy. In addition, she frequently lectures on criminal law and served as an Adjunct Professor at John Marshall Law School.
Ms. Alvarez earned a bachelor’s degree from Loyola University Chicago and a J.D. from Chicago-Kent College of Law. She is a Certified Title IX Investigator and is a member of both the Association of Title IX Administrators (ATIXA) and the Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists (ACAMS) She sits on the Board of Regents for Loyola University Chicago and is a member of The American College of Trial Lawyers, The Chicago Bar Association, Hispanic Lawyers of Illinois, The Women’s Bar of Illinois and The Chicago Network (a professional women’s organization consisting of women leaders in business, the arts, government and academia).