Cynthia Marie Chapa graduated from St. Mary’s University in 2002 with a B.A. in Political Science and St. Mary’s University School of Law in 2006 with a Juris Doctorate. She was admitted to the State Bar of Texas in April 2007. She earned a pro-bono certificate for clinical work at the Center for Legal and Social Justice Immigration Clinic. As a Student Attorney, she represented clients before the Immigration Court and the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service. She received the Leos Award for Excellence in Clinical Work in 2006. From May 2007 to December 2011, she was a partner in the Law Offices of Arellano and Chapa. In 2011 Cynthia left the partnership and went out on her own.

Cynthia worked with state issues serving as State Representative Joaquin Castro and State Representative Justin Rodriguez's District Director from 2003 to 2017.  During her time with the state she helped parents collect child support from errant parents; organized book drive (now known as the SA Reads book drive) to raise thousands of books for local schools, arranged clothing drives to benefit the San Antonio Children’s Shelter, SAM Shelter and various other shelter’s across San Antonio, she organized neighbors to bring them together to have a voice in local and state government; and helped draft and pass legislation. Her dedication to community has not wavered. In recent years she has helped organized the district health and job fairs, the Families Helping Families and Profiles in Change events.  

Cynthia Marie Chapa decided to run for the 288th Civil District Court in 2017 because she sincerely believes that we are all called to serve in one way or another and that this would be her contribution to the Bexar County Community.   In November of 2018, Cynthia was elected to the 288th District Court and was sworn into office on January 1, 2019.