General Counsel - Jennifer Crespo

Jennifer Lydia Crespo joined the Torture Inquiry and Relief Commission as General Counsel in August 2022. Jennifer is a graduate of Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, where she was also enrolled in the African American Studies program, and is a first-generation lawyer with a Juris Doctor from the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law. Jennifer began her legal career practicing immigration law in 2014 with a focus in asylum and removal cases. Immediately prior to joining the Commission, Jennifer represented the State of Illinois in the Consumer Protection Division of the Attorney General’s Office where she litigated consumer fraud cases against pyramid scheme operators, fake schools, opioid manufacturers, and scam repair companies.  Jennifer is the daughter of emigrants from the Philippines and Puerto Rico and of Polish Jewish descent.  She is a past president of HLAI – Serving the Hispanic Lawyers of Illinois and continues to serve on its Board, is the Vice Chair for the Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus Foundation, and a Board Director for the Chicago Bar Foundation.