Professional Biography Criminal law was an area all too familiar to her. Throughout her life, Monique experienced various aspects of the harms perpetrated by the criminal justice system. She bore witness to the lack of justice, in the design of it. She watched it rob her friends and family members of opportunities, fair trials, and of their very presumption of innocence. In 2008 Monique started The Sparks Law Firm. The plan was simple: to treat her clients as if they were her family and friends. She committed that The Sparks Law Firm would ensure that the accused would have a fighter and a friend when battling an unjust system. It did not take long for Monique's practice to develop into a passion for the Constitution, fairness, and the disappearing invaluable art of the jury trial. To that end, she first attended the Trial Lawyers College in 2010. There, she hiked the beautiful mountains of Wyoming, studying the art of storytelling and client-centered representation. She continues to attend various trial institutes across the United States, sharpening her advocacy skills. She has let her passion for community lead her in many pro bono efforts. Monique served as lead counsel for a team of lawyers and experts defending against Harris County's proposed Southlawn Gang Injunction—a lawsuit aimed to violate ninety-two Black men's constitutional rights. More recently, Monique co-founded the Houston Protest Defense Team. The defense team represented some 800 protestors in the summer of 2020, and most of those cases were promptly dismissed. She also serves as co-chair of the Diversity, Justice, and Inclusion Committee of the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association. Monique is also a board member of the Old Spanish Trail/Almeda Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ)—an organization focused on Third Ward redevelopment and revitalization. Her simple one-woman plan has since evolved into a tribe of women warriors. These women bring all their strengths to the table and provide a thorough legal defense with a holistic approach. The Sparks Law Firm purposefully placed in the heart of Third Ward—a historic neighborhood built on resilience; it is the community in which Monique works and lives. Monique is a proud wife and mother who loves nature, exercise, and all things seafood!