Winter Haven / Lakeland Attorney - Lawyer, providing professional Personal Injury, Medical Malpractice, and Criminal Defense legal services.

Mr. Alvarez was born in Matanzas, Cuba on October 3, 1956. As a child, he lived under Cuba’s Communist regime. He came to our country in 1967, when he was 10 years old, together with his parents, his 8-year-old sister, and his maternal grandmother. When they arrived, his family had no job, no money, and could speak no English. Eventually, through hard work and perseverance, his father, a pediatrician, was able to continue his career. Dr. Alvarez always stressed to his children the intrinsic value of a good education, and the importance of doing one’s job well. He retired after more than 60 years in the active practice of medicine; but not before he had put his daughter through medical school, and his son through law school.

Mr. Alvarez spent his teenage years learning English. He graduated from Bishop Moore High School in Orlando, Florida, in 1974. In 1978, he graduated from Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida, with Honors in Political Science. During his senior year at Rollins, he was given the award for Outstanding Senior Scholar in Political Science, and shared the Distinguished Scholastic Award from the Casa Iberia/Latin American Institute. He then graduated from Emory University School of Law, in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1981. While at Emory, he served two terms as Justice of the Emory Law School Honor Court, presiding as Chief Justice during his second term. Additionally, during his last year in law school, Mr. Alvarez served as Commissioner of the Emory Law School Softball League.

After graduating from law school, Mr. Alvarez wanted to develop his trial skills and his ability to speak publicly in English. Consequently, during the 1980s, he worked as an Assistant Public Defender in the 10th Judicial Circuit of Florida, whose main office is located in Bartow, Polk County, Florida. While there, he was awarded the “Public Defender Hardball Award” for his skilled trial work in the representation of indigent persons. Mr. Alvarez has represented clients in close to 200 trials, with about half of those being jury trials. He also has significant appellate experience.

Mr. Alvarez is admitted to practice law before the United States Supreme Court, as well as the State of Florida. Additionally, he has been actively involved in efforts to continually improve the practice of law through membership in many important professional organizations. He is a member of the Florida Bar (civil trial lawyer’s section as well as criminal lawyer’s section), the Polk County Trial Lawyer’s Association, the Polk County Criminal Defense Lawyer’s Association, the Lakeland Bar Association, the Cuban American Bar Association (located in Dade County, Florida), and the Willson American Inn of Court (holding the rank of “Master”).

Additionally, Mr. Alvarez is currently a member of the Florida Bar’s 10th Judicial Circuit Grievance Committee. Finally, Mr. Alvarez has formerly been a member of the Hispanic Bar Association (Orange County, Florida), the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the Florida Sports Lawyer’s Association, the Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers, the Florida Public Defender Association, the American Bar Association, the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, and the U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida.

Mr. Alvarez is also actively involved in public service to his community. Currently, in addition to being a Knight of Columbus, he is a member of the following local boards: The Board of Trustees of Santa Fe Catholic High School, Lakeland, Florida; Board of Directors of Our Children’s Rehab. Center, Inc., Winter Haven, Florida; and the Board of Trustees, St. Josephs Catholic Church Endowment Fund, Winter Haven, Florida. Mr. Alvarez has also formerly been a member of the Board of Directors of the Interlochen Homeowners’ Association in Winter Haven, Florida, Board of Directors of "Hatian Social Services, Inc.", in Orlando, Florida, Cuban American National Foundation, and the Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce.

In addition to practicing law for the past 26 years, Mr. Alvarez has also enjoyed being involved in the educational field. For at least 10 years, he was an Adjunct Professor of U.S. Government at Valencia Community College in Orange and Osceola County, Florida. Additionally, he was an Assistant Varsity Basketball Coach at St. Joseph Catholic Middle School, in Winter Haven, Florida.

Mr. Alvarez lives in Winter Haven with his wife Carol, and their 2 children; Emily and Domingo, where they attend St. Matthews Catholic Church.

Mr. Alvarez enjoys reading science fiction literature, practicing at photography, and playing golf. He has also been working diligently for the past several years on a book regarding a “civil law library” of case law, which he intends to publish in the near future.

Contact an experienced Winter Haven / Lakeland Attorney - Lawyer at The Alvarez Law Group today by calling (863) 401-3422 to schedule a confidential consultation regarding your Personal Injury, Medical Malpractice, and Criminal Defense legal needs.