The Institute for Economic Empowerment of Women.

Paola-Marie Alvarez de Bennett, Alvarez de Bennett Law, P.C.

Attorney Paola-Marie Alvarez de Bennett founded Alvarez de Bennett Law, P.C. in 2009 after working for a prominent Oklahoma City law firm for two years. Paola-Marie was born in Mexico City, D.F., to her U.S. citizen mother and her Mexican citizen father. At a young age, her family came to the United States where she grew up in Gallup, New Mexico and Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Paola-Marie obtained her Bachelors from Oral Roberts University and then decided to attend law school where she felt that she could help people and make a difference in her community. As a law student at the University of Oklahoma, Paola-Marie dedicated herself to several advocacy programs such as Students for Access to Justice Program (University of Oklahoma), Advocates for Basic Legal Equality (Toledo, Ohio), and Corporation for Enterprise Development (Washington D.C.).

Now operating her own law firm. Paola-Marie especially enjoys working on immigration law cases and international adoptions where she helps people come to the United States and take part in the American Dream like her family did.

She also serves in the Oklahoma City community as a:

♦ Volunteer attorney for Trinity Legal Clinic (nonprofit that provides access to legal services for clients who could not otherwise afford hiring their own attorney)
♦ Bi-lingual Tutor for the Whiz Kids program of Oklahoma City (program that provides tutoring for elementary students)
♦ Board Member for Metro Tech Foundation (providing financial assistance to students that could not otherwise afford an education at Metro Tech)
♦ Member of the Greater Oklahoma City Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

Her favorite book is “Banker to the Poor” written by Dr. Muhammad Yunus which has impacted small business owners around the world by showing that a little assistance, training, and mentorship can make a world of difference in teaching others to become self-sufficient.

Paola-Marie lives in Oklahoma City with her husband who serves in the U.S. Air Force.

MaryAnn Rodriguez graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Criminology from the University of Texas Permian Basin. She then obtained her Juris Doctorate from Oklahoma City University.

MaryAnn is now a criminal defense attorney in Oklahoma City. She worked at the Public Defender’s office for two years as an Intern.

Then, she worked for another attorney for one year after passing the bar exam and before starting her own company—Rodriguez Law Firm PLLC.

Rodriguez Law Firm PLLC has been in business for two years and is still growing. Ms. Rodriguez practices in the area of family law, criminal defense, and immigration law.

She is a strong supporter of Restorative Justice and education behind bars.