Biographies

Catalina M. Avalos focuses her practice in the areas of labor and employment, and complex commercial litigation. 
A former county court judge appointed by Gov. Jeb Bush, Avalos has extensive experience in both civil and criminal court matters.  While serving as a judge, she was assigned to the Education Committee for the Conference of County Court Judges.  She presided over county and circuit jury and non-jury trials, and handled in excess of 15,000 cases. 

Prior to her role as a judge, Avalos was an assistant state attorney in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., where she was the Deputy Chief of the County Court Divison and also prosecuted serious cases involving the use of firearms, sexual batteries and second degree murders.  She began her legal career as an associate with a Fort Lauderdale-based law firm handling insurance defense matters. Avalos has tried about 60 jury trials as a lawyer and numerous non-jury trials.   Avalos has both civil and criminal jury trial experience.

In addition to her role as an assistant state attorney, Avalos has taught Criminal Procedure, Constitutional Law and Case Preparation and Courtroom Presentation at Broward College and currently serves on the Florida Bar's Criminal Procedures Rules Committee and the Florida Bar's Outreach Committee.
 
Avalos holds a law degree from Nova Southeastern University where she was elected vice president and president of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America and received recognition for her trial skills.   During law school, she served as a law clerk for the Children's Law Project at the Nova Law Center Civil Law Clinic.  She earned a bachelor's degree from Florida International University, where she was a nominee for the National Dean's List and received her associate's degree from Broward Community College Honor's Institute.

She is an active member of the Nova Southeastern University Library Circle of Friends and is a member of the Broward Women Alliance Group. She has served in the boards of various legal bar associations including the Broward County Bar, Broward County Women's Lawyers Association and the Broward County Hispanic Bar Association. 

Avalos has been recognized for her professionalism by the Broward County Bar's Young Lawyer's Division and received the Broward County Bar Association's President's Award while serving as judge.