Overall Rating
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5.0 /5.0

131 Client Reviews

Avvo

5.0

(130)

Lawyers.com

5.0

(1 )

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Star rating
5 stars 129
4 stars 0
3 stars 0
2 stars 0
1 star 1
Practice Areas
Immigration (85) Criminal Defense (30) Lawsuits & Disputes (10) Family (4) Asylum (3) Appeals (2) Administrative Law (1) Child Abuse (1) Child Custody (1) Domestic Violence (1) Drug Crime (1) State, Local And Municipal Law (1)
What Clients Mention
Case Results (91) Advocacy (64) Practice Area Knowledge (55) Recommendation (55) Professionalism (50) Communication Style (38) Responsiveness (38) Trustworthiness (32) Compassion (30) General Knowledge (30) Character & Conduct (29) Cost of Services (6) Punctuality (6) Staff & Support (6)

Showing 1 - 5 of 30 reviews | Compassion

Posted by Susan | December 17, 2025 | Hired Attorney | Criminal Defense

Expertise, knowledge of the legal ecosystem (people and processes), superb communication, all delivered with compassion

When I found myself, for the first time ever, facing serious legal charges in Boston Massachusetts, I contacted Rachel Self and 4 other well reviewed attorneys. Living on the opposite coast and with ZERO contacts in Boston from whom to get referrals, I resorted to online sources with profiles and re...views. I left messages with brief outlines of my situation and waited anxiously to hear back, wondering how I would make this momentous decision. One of the 5 attorneys never called me back. 2 had very junior associates call me back a few days later. One senior person who eventually called back couldn’t or wouldn’t put succinctly how he would defend me. Rachel called me back late HER time the next day, explaining she always tried to return calls quickly. So, the first positive sign was that after a full day in court Rachel was returning calls to a mere prospective client late in her day. In that first brief call, she demonstrated her expertise and competence in situations like I was facing. She asked the right questions, offered up that I would likely NOT have to travel to Boston for the next step with the courts (something no one else seemed cognizant of) and in crystal clear terms explained the sequence of events ahead. She fully articulated the actions she would take and the cost for her services. Although she was as always efficient in her communication, she in no way rushed me off the phone when I had questions. Remember this was late in the evening her time and I wasn’t a paying client yet. In our ongoing meetings I never felt rushed and always had every question answered fully. Cost wise Rachel was neither the highest nor the lowest. Her fee was without a doubt the best money I ever spent. That she knew what she was doing AND knew all of the relevant parties and processes became even more abundantly clear. She was honest about what would help and what could hurt us (and it did feel like US), so I felt well prepared for what lay ahead. Having armed us with everything that could affect the outcome, she secured a positive result for me. Charges did not go forward but that was by no means guaranteed. Based on her profile, years of experience, positive online reviews and my initial experience, I expected expert legal advice and representation. What was unexpected and incredibly valuable during this mortifying and terrifying time was her empathy and compassion, which showed up in every conversation and email. In selecting a lawyer, I dreaded the kinds of conversations I knew we would have regarding my situation. No one could have managed those difficult conversations better. Rachel Self is a legal champion for her clients. She is also a HUMAN champion for those of us lucky enough to find her. She helped me through the worst of times in a way that honored and salvaged my dignity as a human being. I will be forever grateful to her.

Posted by anonymous | October 02, 2025 | Hired Attorney | Immigration

From removal proceeding to new beginning!!!

Eight years ago, I began a very complex immigration journey with Rachel by my side, including removal proceedings and two denials. Her unwavering support has carried me through every step. She combines genuine care with exceptional attention to detail, guiding me through complex processes with clarit...y and empathy. What stood out: Genuine care and compassion Meticulous attention to detail, even in challenging cases Clear, steady guidance and reliable updates Professionalism, accessibility, and integrity Her dedication and strategic approach kept me hopeful and well-informed throughout a long, difficult process. I highly recommend Rachel to anyone seeking a compassionate, capable immigration lawyer. Thank you, Rachel, for helping me begin a new chapter.

Posted by Efe | May 11, 2025 | Hired Attorney | Immigration

Best Immigration Lawyer Ever

I was lucky to have the privilege of having Rachel represent me. I would like to review her abilities as an attorney across 3 areas - ability, attitude, and results. First, she knows the ins and outs of immigration law, and is capable of coming up with the necessary theory and practice for any argume...nts that your situation will need, no doubt thanks to her intelligence, hard work, and also great team including her brilliant paralegal Sarah. Second, she really cares about and values her clients, not simply on a professional level, but as humans. In Rachel, not only do I see a brilliant attorney, but also a great, compassionate and reliable friend for life. Third, she is capable of delivering miracles. I found myself in a very difficult situation, being hunted by ICE who wanted to detain me punitively, not because they had much of a legal basis for it, but because they wanted to punish me for my political beliefs. Rachel's abilities as a lawyer really showed throughout the process, as we strategized and made the necessary legal chess moves that ultimately saw us winning a federal court case that ordered ICE to let me free from detention mere hours after my arrest. If not for her strategical, legal, and argumentative capabilities, my time spent in detention would have indubitably been way longer - and there might have been a chance that I ended up being sent to prison labor camps in El Salvador or Libya, rather than safely returning to my home and family in Turkey. Unfortunately, we live in dark times when it comes to the American Legal System, particularly when it comes to matters of immigration, and I can't help but wonder how much worse my situation would be had it not been for Rachel. Not solely her work in the court room, or pages upon pages of legal arguments, but also her dedication and care for me as a human being. If you find yourself in immigration trouble, you can count on Rachel to work as hard as she can, use her cleverness, and her heart to put up a fight for you. I owe Rachel a lot and could not be more thankful about my experience with her representing me.

Posted by Stephany | May 04, 2025 | Hired Attorney | Immigration

Honest, Skilled, and Compassionate — Highly Recommended

We had the privilege of working with Rachel on my parents' green card cases, and we cannot speak highly enough of her. Their particular case was complicated and yet she handled it with a level of professionalism, knowledge, and compassion that truly stood out. From the very beginning, she demonstrate...d not only a deep understanding of immigration law, but also extraordinary patience, empathy, and care. She took the time to explain to them every part of the process and made sure they felt informed and supported through it all. Thanks to Rachel, we were able to achieve a favorable outcome that we truly believe would not have been possible without her. We wholeheartedly and confidently recommend Rachel to anyone in need of a truly dedicated and trustworthy immigration attorney. She is exceptional at what she does and we are deeply grateful to have had her by our side.

Posted by Doug | February 14, 2024 | Hired Attorney | Criminal Defense

Empathic Attorney

Rachel represented us in a criminal case that extended over 5 1/2 years. During this time the prosecution was disinterested in examining the facts or dropping the case that was rife with dubious and conflicting testimony. Rachel took the time to peel the layers back exposing the predisposed rush t...o judgement. Her skill as a lawyer and empathy as a person allowed us to dismantle the web of accusations and expose them as false. It was an especially trying case for ourselves and Rachel. We never gave up and Rachel provided logical and caring advice throughout the ordeal. There is no way we can thank her enough.

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