Stephanie M. Rickard
Attorney at Law · Experienced Trial lawyer
My reputation is for being genuinely concerned about my clients. Some things I bring to the table:
Professional Dedication
Personal Involvement
Highly Responsive
Integrity
I cover all areas of Criminal Defense including DUI, Domestic Violence, Juvenile, Drug, and Financial Crimes.
Free Consultation · Available 24/7
There is Hope
People facing serious criminal charges often lose hope for their future. I am committed to doing everything in my power to restore that hope for my clients and their families. I have never had a case that was hopeless. There is always something that can be done to improve my client's situation. I work diligently to persuade prosecutors, judges probation, and juries to understand my client's unique situation. I also understand that my clients and their families need personal attention and accessibility because being accused of a crime is often the most stressful event in life. My goal is to reduce that stress by outlining a strategy of defense treatment or a combination of both. I find that a multilevel approach also gets the best possible end result for the client.
All reviews5.0
Yelp5.0
Avvo5.0
Lawyers.com5.05.0
5.0Top Rated ServiceVerified by TrustindexTrustindex verified badge is the Universal Symbol of Trust. Only the greatest companies can get the verified badge who has a review score above 4.5, based on customer reviews over the past 12 months. Read more
4.9
4.9Top Rated ServiceVerified by TrustindexTrustindex verified badge is the Universal Symbol of Trust. Only the greatest companies can get the verified badge who has a review score above 4.5, based on customer reviews over the past 12 months. Read more
5.0
5.0Top Rated ServiceVerified by TrustindexTrustindex verified badge is the Universal Symbol of Trust. Only the greatest companies can get the verified badge who has a review score above 4.5, based on customer reviews over the past 12 months. Read more
5.0
5.0Top Rated ServiceVerified by TrustindexTrustindex verified badge is the Universal Symbol of Trust. Only the greatest companies can get the verified badge who has a review score above 4.5, based on customer reviews over the past 12 months. Read more
5.0
5.0Top Rated ServiceVerified by TrustindexTrustindex verified badge is the Universal Symbol of Trust. Only the greatest companies can get the verified badge who has a review score above 4.5, based on customer reviews over the past 12 months. Read moreStephanie was outstanding from start to finish. She was knowledgeable, responsive, and truly cared about my case. I am very grateful for her and her whole team for the hard work. I highly recommend this firm. Thank you for dismissing my case!Stephanie was professional, knowledgeable, and genuinely patient throughout the process. She took the time to answer every question thoroughly, explain our options clearly, and provide thoughtful guidance that helped achieve the best possible outcome. We truly appreciated her responsiveness, attention to detail, and steady support. We would confidently recommend her to anyone looking for an attorney who is both highly capable and easy to work with.Stephanie Rickard is a great attorney. I highly recommend her. I'm very happy with the outcome of my case.Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
This lady’s communication is awful. She’s also very rude when she feels challenged and has an arrogant attitude. I wish I never hired her as my attorney and the outcome was not what I was hoping for.Stephanie Rickard is a very encouraging professional powerhouse. She fought for me and responded in a timely manner. Everything she did for me, she had my best interests in mind. She listened to me and I truly felt she cared about me. 20 out of 5 would recommend. She will fight for you! Thank you Stephanie. I love and appreciate everything you have done!!! Because of you, I am able to be here with my kids! It's like that feeling when you're getting bullied at school and you feel defenseless right? Then a new kid moves in town that's tougher than them all and you become good friends with them. That feeling like, yea no one's gonna test me, I got back up! Yea, that's Stephanie... got me walking around with a big smile :-)After I got arrested I was down and out, I couldn’t stop crying and all I could think of is me being away from my children in jail. She helped me with my 4th DUI. She’s the reason I’m sober. Because of Stephanie’s encouraging words, help and guidance, I’m 6 months sober and I’m going to keep adding and adding months until they turn to years. She really empowered me and understood. She told me things I needed to hear, you know? Things that I can’t hear from my parents because my parents are dead. She defended me and I really love, respect and appreciate you Stephanie! I’m so serious, thank you for understanding, empowering and comforting me when I was down and and at my lowest. This professional is a powerhouse! Thank you! Thank you!If you’re looking for the best lawyer with legal expertise while advocating for their clients' best interests while remaining realistic about potential outcomes Stephanie Rickard is the lawyer you need. She took the time to hear me out and showed true empathy and reassured me I will stay out of jail for my children. She empowered me and anytime I reached out to her she responded in a timely matter. She didn’t talk over me and showed true empathy. She was transparent and very professional. I can’t thank you enough for helping me with my DUI. Thank you Stephanie, so much. You are top tier! She WILL fight and defend you.Stephanie is an exceptional attorney …a 15 on a 1 to 10 scale. She is professional, savvy with the court, the clerks and whomever she deals with. She gets results…. beyond expectations. I have used five attorneys for other issues, but there is no one that compares to Stephanie.I had the pleasure of working alongside Ms. Stephanie Rickard in court, and I came away thoroughly impressed. She is exceptionally professional, poised, and well-prepared. She carries herself with confidence and treats everyone in the courtroom with respect while remaining a strong advocate for her clients. Beyond her legal knowledge, what stood out to me most was her composure and professionalism under pressure. She presents herself with remarkable class and credibility - qualities that inspire confidence from the moment she speaks. If you’re looking for an attorney who combines intelligence, professionalism, and genuine elegance in the courtroom, I would not hesitate to recommend Stephanie Rickard. She is also one of the most elegant and polished attorneys I’ve had the pleasure of seeing in court: truly chic, and exceptionally capable.Stephanie Rickard is truly an exceptional attorney and someone I would recommend without hesitation. From the very beginning, she was professional, knowledgeable, responsive, and completely dedicated to my case. Going through a court proceeding can be stressful, but Stephanie made the entire process much easier by clearly explaining every step, answering all of my questions, and making sure I felt informed and confident throughout. What impressed me most was her preparation, attention to detail, and ability to advocate effectively on my behalf in court. She is highly skilled, compassionate, and genuinely cares about her clients and their outcomes. Her expertise and determination were evident every step of the way, and I always felt that my case was in the best possible hands. Thanks to Stephanie’s hard work and commitment, I achieved a positive outcome, and I am incredibly grateful for her representation. If you are looking for an attorney who is intelligent, trustworthy, professional, and truly dedicated to her clients, Stephanie Rickard is the best. I cannot thank her enough and would gladly work with her again if I ever needed legal representation in the future.It is very difficult to find the BEST words to describe the professionalism of Stephanie Rickard! What I can say is you will never find anyone who goes above and beyond in representing you. She has the respect from the judge, the courts, and everyone she comes in contact with. To include knowing all about the military and helping veterans goes way beyond my expectations. As far as service fee's they are very reasonable and worth every cent. From this point forward, I gained a best friend. Thank you for everything you do for me. I am forever in your debt!!!!I highly recommend Stephanie M. Rickard. I retained Stephanie during an unexpected and sensitive legal matter—my first experience navigating the legal system. After consulting with several attorneys, Stephanie stood apart immediately. It was clear from our first conversation that Stephanie brought exceptional legal expertise, deep experience, and confidence to my case. She communicated with clarity, precision, and authority, which gave me confidence that I was in the right hands. From our initial consultation, Stephanie demonstrated a strong command of the legal process and case strategy. She clearly explained the process, timeline, and potential paths forward, bringing much-needed clarity to a difficult situation. Stephanie handled the first court hearing on my behalf and achieved the best possible outcome: my case was dismissed. In addition to her exceptional legal expertise, Stephanie brought a steady and confident presence throughout the process. She handled every aspect of my case with professionalism, discretion, and sound judgment. Stephanie is clearly highly respected within the Santa Clara County court system, and after working with her, it is easy to understand why. I will always be deeply grateful for Stephanie’s guidance and representation during one of the most difficult periods of my life. Her expertise, advocacy, and support gave me the opportunity to move forward and truly gave me my life back. If you are seeking a criminal defense attorney who is intelligent, strategic, highly respected, and exceptionally effective, I unequivocally recommend Stephanie without hesitation.Stephanie responded incredibly quickly—within 30 minutes of my inquiry. She took the time to answer my questions, gave me honest and straightforward advice, and didn't pressure me into hiring her. I really appreciated that she explained the legal process clearly and even warned me to be careful of attorneys who might try to take advantage of someone in a stressful situation. Her professionalism, honesty, and willingness to help made a great first impression. I highly recommend reaching out if you need legal guidance.Stephanie is an excellent attorney with a high level of professionalism. She communicates clearly and logically, and her tone is gentle yet firm and confident. Stephanie is also very efficient in handling matters. I truly appreciate all of her help and support.From our first contact with Stephanie and through out the process she was great! Communicating important information to me. She's very responsive to our needs. Great attorney!Stephanie is an excellent lawyer and she has excellent communication and follow through. I highly recommend her and would definitely use her again if the need arises. Thank you for everything.I called Stephanie's office regarding a legal matter that required immediate attention. Stephanie called me immediately from her cell phone and quickly put me at ease on this matter. Her reassuring and professional manner was a great relief for me. She is truly a blessing. I have the same regards for her office staff. Promptly responsive and professional. Thank you Stephanie and team.Mrs. Rickard helped me for a misdemeanor case. I have never had any issue with law before, but I needed help and Mrs. Rickard was the most compassionate and helpful person I have seen in a while. Since the first phone call, she was able to give me hope. She is very knowledgeable and walked me through the process, addressing my (many) questions and giving me honest feedbacks. I could tell that she knows her job: she is factual and knows what to leverage for your case. She was able to get my case dismissed and I am so very grateful. In court you need someone that fights for you, and Mrs. Rickard will.I highly recommend Attorney Stephanie to anyone dealing with a domestic violence case. I was facing a complex domestic violence case. I knew I needed an experienced attorney, but also someone genuine who would listen, care, and truly fight for me and I am so glad I found her. Her office is truly a judgment-free zone, with amazing staff members who made me feel welcome and supported from the start. Stephanie listened to my case, explained her step-by-step approach, and immediately put me at ease. Thanks to her expertise and hard work, my case was dismissed. Afterward, she gave me the confidence and reassurance I needed to move forward and rebuild my life. I am deeply grateful for her help and support. Thank you.Stephanie is very good, professional, friendly and supportive. She helped me with my case and got the best result for me (dismissal!), which went far beyond my expectation. Stephanie worked hard to dig into the case details and was being very thoughtful and responsive all the time, even during the free consultation session! I asked Stephanie to represent me when my previous lawyer lost my trust over time by laying back and being unsupportive and unresponsive. After I switched to Stephanie, the quality of service she provided is such a surprise. Now I wish I would reach out to Stephanie in the first place!Stephanie Rickard, she won my case always answer my questions quickly, dedicated to her work very nice lady I would definitely recommend her."Charge Dismissed and Sealed" When my past came back to haunt me, I didn't know what I was going to do. I began my search for a lawyer and was impressed with The Law office of Stephanie's 5-star ratings, reviews on google and yelp. I thank God for placing Stephanie in my path to help me get through this last stretch of my past and to leave it behind. Thank you for your help, support and knowledge in every way possible through this. We couldn't have seen it through without your expertise and experience. I also appreciate your quick response to any telephone calls and text messages it reassured me on your professionalism and that my case was equally important to any case you're handling. Your direct manner and understanding is what made all the difference. Thank you Stephanie and Linda for All you do!Stephanie was an absolute beacon of hope and advocate for a second chance that I desperately needed. It was through her representation that I was able to move on after a bad decision. Without her I have no idea where my future would have been headed. Her representation saved my life and wellbeing. I will forever be grateful.Attorney: – Stephanie M. Ricardo Stephanie M. Ricardo is an exceptional attorney who combines strong legal expertise with genuine care for her clients. From the beginning, she approached my case with professionalism, attention to detail, and a clear understanding of the legal process. She took the time to explain each step thoroughly, ensuring I felt informed and supported throughout. What truly sets her apart is her compassion and ability to make a stressful situation feel manageable. Her dedication and commitment led to a very positive outcome, and I am extremely grateful for her guidance. I highly recommend Stephanie to anyone seeking a knowledgeable, trustworthy, and dedicated attorney.Stephanie provided very thoughtful guidance to our family while we were never direct clients of hers. We really appreciated her taking the care and time to do this via the phone, when we called as prospective clients. We definitely wish we had gone with her initially and we were so grateful for her extra insight during a stressful time for our family. We got the sense she is an expert in her field and truly cares to help clients achieve the best outcome they can.Verified
I hired Stephany 2019 with double price of others . She was very warm , hugged me while I was in bad crying & depression of lost my mom's , loosing my true love one , my big job in Iran. Almost a year I was mentally un health. That they I just broke cellphone of my twin flame that both we love each others in high end. Stephany prevaricator told me I will have 2 years jail & deportation but she can help me to get red of it if I accept 10 years restraining order. I thought RO means I should not fight with my love . I said make it 20 years , I don't want fight . After I signed the papers I noticed I cannot even email to my love . She did not clear it for me as a bad mental health problem that time. I violate the RO by emailing to my love one , she was ok & wanted to remove the RO but Stephany & DA & her attorney brain washed my love one that this guy is dangerously violating . The girl who was in infinite love with me reported me & jail , mental hospital . Long story that I'm writing book about it . Attorney are only legal person they can talk to my love one , I just had question , that should I wait for her if not I wanted to move back to my country but Stephany stopped to ask. She played me to make more money from me. She brain washed other attorneys I hired & non of them didnot asked this simple question. She is a devil mind well dress lady . Also her Google feedback are fake . Unfortunately they buy feedbacks & when I noticed this last years , she got mad & put me in jail with trick again. In Islam the biggest sin in this world is making separation between two lovers that these attorneys doing daily . They making low to make money of that . They don't know anything about peace . Watch a movie name they live 1988 . When I was in jail 2019 for 4 days , a father told me don't hire attorneys, you broke a cell , just talk to judge directly, they will give you 1-2 months jail & a year RO. I didn't attention to his voice & got more trouble by hiring Stephany . I lost my Love one, lost my citizenship, got health damaged by side effect of mental health medication , lost some hundreds $$$ ,...all because I hired very unknowable person.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 called 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.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 because 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！Review of my experience I cannot overstate my appreciation for the exemplary legal representation she provided. Throughout the entirety of my case, she demonstrated unwavering professionalism, exceptional legal knowledge, and admirable composure. Her courtroom presence was authoritative and commanding, and her strategic advocacy was instrumental in achieving a favorable outcome. She is, without question, an outstanding attorney whose dedication and expertise set her apart in her field. I offer my highest recommendation.Recommend! DV case. Stephanie is responsive and understanding in her communication with me. She gives specific instructions that turned out to be helpful. Her collaborators are reliable. She is experienced with the office and the court. She has many cases going on but she will still fight for you herself in person. She says don’t hesitate to contact her anytime and she means that. She might be in court and hang up but she will get beck to you. If not, ping her again, she will respond. I feel lucky to have found her and worked with her excellent collaborators.Criminal Law 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.Traffic Violations I had the pleasure of being represented by Stephanie M. Rickard, and I can’t say enough about how outstanding my experience was. From the beginning, I was impressed with how knowledgeable, professional, and kind the entire team was. Mr. Perez of her staff was incredibly welcoming and went above and beyond to ensure that I understood every step of the process. Stephanie Rickard is not only an expert in her field, but also genuinely cared about my situation, offering insightful guidance that made me feel confident and supported. What stood out the most was her office's quick response time. No matter what time of day, I always received prompt replies to my questions, which made the entire experience stress-free. If you’re looking for a law firm that combines expertise with exceptional customer care, look no further. I highly recommend Ms. Rickard for anyone seeking legal assistance in Criminal Defense. They truly exceeded my expectations in every way.Criminal Law Attorney Stephanie Rickard is not only an incredible attorney, but she does her job with compassion, and empathy for her clients! How rare this is in today's world, let alone in the legal profession! I'm so grateful to you Stephanie for helping me, thank you!Criminal Law Attorney Stephanie Rickard is not only an incredible attorney, but she does her job with compassion, and empathy for her clients! How rare this is in today's world, let alone in the legal profession! I'm so grateful to you Stephanie for helping me, thank you!Criminal Law Starting with the first consultation I felt immediately better about my situation. Now that the case is over, I could not be happier or more satisfied with the outcome.Criminal Law Stephanie was an awesome attorney. I have never been in trouble with the law until my recent DUI. After a consultation with Stephanie I knew she was the attorney for me. She answered all my questions and explained all the legal stuff to me very well. When my case was finished she called me right away and advised me out of the outcome. I have to say, I was expecting the outcome to be so much worse, but thanks to Stephanie it was not. I highly recommend her services!!!!Criminal Law I was very depressed when i got second DUI with high BAC. After talking to Stephanie i felt that she is the right lawyer for me. Truly i am fortunate to have Stephanie to handle my case.{para}she handled case very professionally. she returned all my phone calls and discussed the case in timely manner. she was able to reduce the charges and outcome was GREAT. She was able to keep me out of jail and very less charges.Criminal Law Stephanie is always professional, always polite, and always an effective advocate for her clients. I was very troubled about a traffic ticket that I had received, but her expertise in representing people in these matters allowed me to keep my driver's license. If I ever again find myself in legal trouble, Stephanie Rickard will be the first name that comes to my mind for legal counsel.Personal Injury We are very impressed with the professionalism and expertise Ms. Rickard presented throughout the case. She took time and efforts to understand my mother's case, paid close attention to detail and responded to our inquiries promptly and thoroughly. Going through a tragedy is never easy and we are so glad that we found her to represent us.Criminal Law I highly recommend Stephanie,..She is an excellent communicator, always has time for you and was able to remedy a bad legal situation that I was in.
Why Work with me?
Experience
I have more than 25 years of experience in the bay area criminal justice system. I was a Deputy District Attorney in Santa Clara county and have successfully defended clients in both simple and extremely complex situations including; domestic violence, drug crimes, fraud, sexual allegations and driving under the influence cases.
Approach
I treat my clients as I would like to be treated if I were in their situation; with honesty, compassion and respect. I have found that this approach also results in the best possible outcome for the client in court. It is important for me to be aware of each clients unique issues because their background and situation often affect the case.
Understanding
If a client has a mental health or substance abuse issue I connect them with the resources they need. If a client is from another country I educate them on the different methods employed by the courts in California as there is often a great disparity between California and other areas particularly in the areas of domestic violence and drug and alcohol cases. Once the client has a better understanding of the issues they are more likely to have a successful outcome and improve their lives in the process.
Results
My goal is to obtain the best possible result for each client, be it treatment, probation, negotiated settlement or trial.
Each case and client are unique but no matter how difficult the situation is I do not stop until the client has reached their goal.
Qualifications
