Staff
Attorney Michelle Velasquez
CO-FOUNDER AND MANAGING ATTORNEY
Attorney Velasquez began her professional career as a social worker after graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a bachelor's in social work. While attending Marquette University Law School, Attorney Velasquez clerked in the Milwaukee County Circuit Court and interned at both Centro Legal and the Appellate Division of the State Public Defender. As a Public Interest Law Student Fellow, she traveled to Santiago, Chile, to intern at the Center for Ethics at the Universidad de Alberto Hurtado. Since graduating in 2010, Attorney Velasquez has worked at Centro Legal as the criminal defense attorney, and in the Appellate Division of the State Public Defender. During her career there, she developed a practice in the intersection of immigration and criminal law and has appeared before the Wisconsin Supreme Court on three occasions.
Her belief that the legal system should be meaningfully accessible to all members of our community, regardless of socioeconomic status, as well as her quest to achieve justice for residents of our community that are under-served and often vulnerable, led her to co-found Civitas Law Group, Inc. She looks forward to continue growing the organization and collaborating with community organizations to reach those in need of legal services.
Attorney Jessica Marquez Murphy
SUPERVISING ATTORNEY
While attending Marquette University Law School, Attorney Marquez Murphy served as a legal advocate to domestic violence victims with the Sojourner Family Peace Center. Upon graduation in 2007, she carried her passion for helping victims into her law career and took a grant-funded position with Centro Legal. At Centro, Attorney Marquez Murphy served as the senior attorney, providing free legal representation to domestic violence and sexual assault victims under the Family Law Domestic Violence Program.
Attorney Marquez Murphy joined Civitas in October 2016, where she now represents survivors of domestic abuse, oversees the domestic abuse program with the Hmong American Women’s Association, and represents children as a Guardian Ad Litem in contested custody and placement matters.
Attorney Haley Hinze
STAFF ATTORNEY
Attorney Hinze specializes in family law. She was admitted into the State Bar of Wisconsin in May of 2018 and joined Civitas Law Group in June of 2018. Attorney Hinze is well aware of the qualities necessary to work with clients regarding personal and difficult subjects. She meets every client with compassion and respect. Attorney Hinze strives to resolve her cases with zealous advocacy and creative problem-solving. Family issues are often stressful and may cause a significant amount of anxiety. Attorney Hinze tries to relieve as much of this stress and anxiety as possible by taking the time to truly listen to her clients and answer every question that comes up along the way. Attorney Hinze values continuing her education as a family law attorney. Most recently, she was awarded a scholarship to the 38th Annual Family Law Workshop where she broadened her understanding of current case law, legislation, and trauma informed care.
Attorney Hinze is dedicated to service and the Milwaukee community. She has completed over 200 hours of service at the Milwaukee Justice Center and is now volunteering her time with Marquette Volunteer Legal Clinic.
Adriana Alonso
Student Intern
Adriana is a full time Sociology and Spanish student with a minor in Political Science at Cardinal Stritch University. She is the Vice President of the Hispanic Professionals of Greater Milwaukee student chapter and plans on attending law school upon completion of her undergraduate degree.
Madeline Bitto
Public Interest Law Fellow
Joining Civitas May 2020