Overall Rating
This is an aggregated review score of Avvo and Lawyers.com reviews.

5.0 /5.0

193 Client Reviews

Avvo

5.0

(188)

Lawyers.com

5.0

(5 )

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Star rating
5 stars 187
4 stars 0
3 stars 0
2 stars 0
1 star 1
Practice Areas
Criminal Defense (90) Lawsuits & Disputes (41) DUI & DWI (31) Domestic Violence (10) Car Accidents (5) Family (4) Immigration (4) Speeding & Traffic Ticket (4) Expungement (3) Litigation (3) Divorce & Separation (2) Juvenile (2) Alimony (1) Arbitration (1) Child Custody (1) Construction & Development (1) Contracts & Agreements (1) Guardianship (1) Gun Law (1) Sex Crime (1) State, Local And Municipal Law (1) Violent Crime (1) White Collar Crime (1)
What Clients Mention
Case Results (128) Advocacy (98) Recommendation (78) Professionalism (54) Responsiveness (50) Communication Style (48) Compassion (42) Practice Area Knowledge (41) Character & Conduct (38) General Knowledge (37) Trustworthiness (28) Cost of Services (21) Staff & Support (9) Punctuality (3) Free Consultations (1)

Showing 1 - 5 of 48 reviews | Communication Style

Posted by Andrea | March 10, 2026 | Hired Attorney

The lawyer I trust

I hired Stephanie for my daughter's Domestic Violence case. It was the first time I needed a lawyer and had no idea who I should select. Then I went thru lawyers' profiles and ratings and called about 3 offices. 2 out of 3 asked me to make an appointment the next day or so. Stephanie herself c...alled me right on that evening, asking me about the case, talking to my daughter and gave us very clear instructions what we needed to do. She also called to follow up with us on the next day. I felt I got the right lawyer and trusted her. As the result, the DA's office has declined to file charges against my daughter. Thanks so much for your help, Stephanie. You're a very talented and dedicated lawyer.

Stephanie Rickard

Replied last March 13, 2026

Thank you so much for your beautiful review. I truly appreciate it. Stephanie Rickard

Posted by Harlen | February 25, 2026 | Hired Attorney

Stephanie saved me!

In August I had a family argument that unfortunately developed into an arrest and felony charge against me. Being an asian with almost 0 knowledge to US justice system, I panicked and didn't know what to do. After 1 day in county jail and then the bail release, I started to search for attorney becau...se I know it's the key. I searched for many attorneys online, but none gave me the peace of mind I was looking for. By a stroke of luck, while I was struggling to file a document at the Palo Alto Courthouse, I noticed Stephanie sitting near the clerk’s window. She was on a call regarding a case, and her clarity of thought and sheer confidence immediately struck me. At the time, I was having trouble because the court hadn’t assigned a case number yet. Stephanie, having finished her call, proactively approached me to help. After learning about my situation, she offered to handle the filing for me since she is frequently at the courthouse and could track the case ID. Later, I found her profile on Avvo and was deeply impressed: her background as a former DA combined with her extensive experience in criminal defense gave her a 360-degree understanding of the legal process. Meeting her felt like a divine intervention, and hiring her was the best decision I could have made. Fast forward six months: my case has been reduced from a felony charge to a minor infraction/misdemeanor of "Disturbing the Peace" (PC 415) with no bail required. This "dream result" is entirely thanks to Stephanie. Her excellence stands out in several ways: Empathy and Support: In the early stages, I was under immense emotional and financial stress, fearing re-arrest and family collapse. Stephanie provided invaluable comfort, explaining that the DA’s strategy is often to "overcharge" with the heaviest codes to create leverage for plea bargains. Moreover, Stephanie was incredibly mindful of my background. Coming from Asia, I had a very different cultural perspective and understanding of the judicial system. She took the time to patiently explain how the U.S. legal system operates and why certain strategies were more effective than others in this specific context." Strategic Communication: As a former prosecutor, she knows exactly how DAs think. She shifted my perspective: it’s not just about "what happened," but rather "what the DA can prove" vs. "what we can prove." Clarity and Evidence: Under her guidance, we built a compelling chain of evidence. She used this as her strongest leverage to secure the plea deal. Courtroom Presence: Stephanie is unparalleled in the courtroom—articulate, confident, and always in control of the narrative. I've observed several other attorneys' defense in the court room. And Stephanie is definitely the BEST! As she predicted from the start, the DA eventually agreed to a PC 415 (Disturbing the Peace) plea bargain—one of the best possible outcomes for such a case. Today, as I breathe the air of freedom again, I hope I never need her services again. However, I know there are others facing similar hardships due to unfortunate events. I highly recommend Stephanie; you can trust her completely to fight for the best possible conclusion to your case. Again, I highly recommend Stephanie should you have need of DV defense service. 强烈推荐！

Stephanie Rickard

Replied last March 13, 2026

Thank you for the lovely review. I am happy I could help! Stephanie Rickard

Posted by anonymous | December 04, 2025 | Hired Attorney

Expertise & Outcome

I can’t thank Stephanie Rickard enough for her exceptional work on my DUI case. From our first meeting, she was incredibly supportive and clear about every step of the process. She kept me informed and answered all my questions promptly, which significantly reduced my stress. Her expertise led to gr...eat result, and I highly recommend her.

Posted by anonymous | September 24, 2025 | Hired Attorney

Stephanie is your best ROI

While I made the worst decision that resulted in a DUI, hiring Stephanie and her team was the best decision. They are one of a kind, and the best ROI no doubt. I was referred to Stephanie by a friend and I'm so grateful for that referral. I spoke to a handful of attorneys for my DUI case prior -- St...ephanie easily came off as the most knowledgeable and experienced. She is a straight shooter and very affordable. It was clear she knew what she was doing - laying my predicted outcome in minutes. Sometimes she didn't get back to me as mentioned, but just follow up and she'll get back. I think its important to put things in perspective -- I'm one of many clients and DUI cases are generally straightforward compared to the criminal cases she manages. I could tell she had my best interest while being very direct with the expected outcome. She represented me in court, took care of all the documents and processes, and her team (shoutout to Jorge and Linda) jumped in to navigate me through the hundreds of questions I had for DUI classes, license, community service, and many more. This was my first time getting in trouble with the law, so I was overwhelmed, terrified, and devastated, I'm not sure I would've been treated with so much respect and kindness and received such positive outcome had it not been for Stephanie and her team. 1000% recommend Stephanie Rickard.

Posted by Gene | September 21, 2025 | Hired Attorney

Experienced, Effective and Compassionate - Stephanie Rickard

If I could leave a 10-star review, I would. Stephanie Rickard is amazing, and her experience and professionalism are exactly what I was looking for when I needed the support of a lawyer. She was quick to work out and explain her approach, handled everything with a compassionate attitude, and is quick... to respond to any questions I had. It was exactly what is needed in such a difficult time. She came highly recommended, and after having her work so diligently on my case, I can see why. I am very happy with the results of the case. If anyone is looking for a DUI defense attorney in the Bay Area, definitely go with Stephanie!

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