Paralegal - Paola Ascencio

Paola Ascencio joined the Torture Inquiry Relief Commission as TIRC’s first-ever paralegal in January 2025. While working as a legal assistant, Paola became a graduate of Northern Illinois University and William Rainey Harper College, graduating magna cum laude and earning her A.A.S., A.S., and B.A. degrees in the studies of Political Science (American Government & Pre-Law) and Psychology (Personality Disorders and Childhood Development), alongside her Paralegal (n/k/a Legal Studies) Certificate. Paola was active in several legal and political-science based organizations, including acting as Executive Board Member of the Pre-Law Honor Society; Captain of the Mock Trial Team; Member of the Moot Court Team; and Chief Justice of Model Illinois Government, where she remains a volunteer to those organizations as an alum and member of the legal community.

Paola brings over 10 years of hands-on legal experience in the private sector, working primarily on complex family law and litigation matters, often working closely with executive teams to develop creative and efficient legal and administrative solutions to case management, litigation processes, hiring, and training. Paola has maintained a history of volunteer work in nonprofit organizations, pro bono clinics, political campaigns, grassroots campaign management, voter registration initiatives, and serving as a volunteer and spokesperson advocating for a number of local issues facing the people of Chicago and the State of Illinois. Outside of work, Paola finds value in maintaining a strong work-life balance and decompresses by spending time in nature, supporting live music and local artists, and taking on creative personal projects.