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

5.0 /5.0

190 Client Reviews

Avvo

5.0

(185)

Lawyers.com

5.0

(5 )

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Criminal Defense (87) Lawsuits & Disputes (41) DUI & DWI (31) Domestic Violence (9) 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 (127) 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 28 reviews | Trustworthiness

Posted by Harlen | February 25, 2026 | Hired Attorney | Criminal Defense

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 | September 24, 2025 | Hired Attorney | DUI & DWI

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 Amir | March 18, 2025 | Hired Attorney | Criminal Defense

Amazing!!!

I cannot recommend Stephanie Rickard enough! From the moment I reached out to her, she has been nothing short of amazing. Her knowledge and expertise in criminal defense are truly impressive, but what really sets her apart is her genuine care for her clients. Stephanie is incredibly responsive—she ...answered my calls and texts even when she was on vacation, late at night, or early in the morning. That level of dedication provided me with peace of mind during a very stressful time. When she represents you in court, you immediately feel that you are in great hands. It's clear that everyone in the courthouse respects Stephanie; she commands attention and has great competition but remains honest and straightforward in her approach. If you find yourself in a situation where you need legal help and are reading this review, look no further—Stephanie is exactly who you need. I went through all of her reviews one by one when I found myself on the wrong side of the law and I can assure you that she deserves all of those 5 star reviews and those reviews are nothing but the truth about her and how she will present you at court. She has been a blessing, and I am so grateful for her support. After God's help, she is everything you need! Thank you, Stephanie, for being such a fantastic lawyer and a wonderful person! Feel free to adjust any parts to better fit your sentiments!

Posted by anonymous | October 21, 2024 | Hired Attorney | Lawsuits & Disputes

Honest lawyer and responsive team

I would like to start saying she is very experienced. From the consulting to the court date, made me feel well represented. From her team, Linda was very kind and responsive to my silly questions. Also, she is judgement free and just gave me positive advises , just listen to her opinion of your case... and take it from there. I'm very surprised how responsive she was with me , knowing she must be a very busy attorney. I did research and is exactly what others say, an excellent person and attorney. I would keep going on and on, but is not neccesary. She is transparent anf straight forward.

Posted by Amir | August 01, 2023 | Criminal Defense

She is the best

I called her on a case and asked for consultation. She patiently answered my questions and when I asked her to be my lawyer, she told me I didn't need a lawyer for my case, because it would be dismissed. Art the time, I was talking to other lawyers and every single of them was trying to get me as ...a client. But she told me to wait for the dismissal and is it didn't happen, she would accept to be my lawyer. And she was right. I never get charged.

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