Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office
Gabriela Padilla-Abarca is an experienced legal professional currently serving as an Assistant State’s Attorney at the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office since September 2021. Previous roles include Law Clerk and Lawyers of Color Fellow, with additional experience as a Judicial Extern at the Circuit Court of Cook County and a Judicial Intern at the Supreme Court of the State of New York. Gabriela began a legal career as a Legal Assistant at Murtaugh Law and Luisa White Law, LLC. Gabriela earned a Juris Doctorate from Chicago-Kent College of Law, Illinois Institute of Technology, and holds a degree from Purdue University, completed in 2020.
Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office
With more than 700 attorneys, the Cook County State's Attorney's Office is the second largest prosecutor's office in the nation. The CCSAO is responsible for the prosecution of all misdemeanor and felony crimes committed in Cook County, one of the largest counties in the United States. The CCSAO also serves as legal counsel for the government of Cook County and county office holders and employees, litigating Plaintiff and Defense oriented cases and providing legal counsel on a range of matters. Led by State’s Attorney Kimberly M. Foxx, the first African American elected to the office, the CCSAO’s team of prosecutors has a passion for public service and has earned a national reputation for excellence in the pursuit of justice for the people we serve. The CCSAO offers many rewarding and exciting opportunities in the following areas: Criminal Prosecutions • Felony Trial • Sex Crimes Unit • Special Prosecutions Bureau • Juvenile Justice Bureau • Narcotics Bureau • Appeals Unit Civil Actions Bureau • Civil Rights • Constitutional Law • Labor and Employment • Medical Malpractice • Plaintiff-Side Torts • Municipal Litigation • State and Federal Litigation Our program is highly competitive due to the hands-on, challenging and relevant work experience. There are opportunities for Assistant State's Attorneys, undergraduate interns, legal interns earning a paralegal certificate, law clerks and recently graduated Secondments or Fellows. Please visit our careers page to download an application and learn more about applying to be part of the office.