
Raquel Smith
N/A
Licensed for 8 years
Law Degree
Awards
Primary Practice Area
Criminal Defense
Language
Spanish
About
Raquel Smith is an associate with the Law Office of McKenzie & Tehrani. Ms. Smith has been barred in Maryland since 2013 and focuses her practice on serious criminal and traffic matters. Ms. Smith decided to pursue a career in law after interning with a non-profit legal services provider in Prince George’s County, MD. While interning, she witnessed the difficulties unrepresented litigants experienced attempting to navigate Maryland’s legal system. Thereafter, she knew she would focus her career on assisting those dealing with the legal system to obtain the best possible results.Ms. Smith has extensive experience in handling hundreds of criminal and traffic cases. She has also represented litigants in personal injury matters and domestic violence hearings. Over the course of her career, she has handled dozens of jury trials. Ms. Smith has obtained complete jury acquittals on a number of varying criminal charges, from misdemeanor charges ranging to charges involving life in jail. She has also obtained jury verdicts higher than settlement offers relayed by insurance companies, and in one case, obtained a jury verdict twelve times higher than the settlement offer. She has earned the reputation of being an aggressive but amicable litigator among her peers. The majority of her clients are Spanish-speaking, and she prides herself on effectively communicating the nuances of the legal process to her clients and making that process less stressful.Ms. Smith is a member of the Maryland Criminal Defense Attorneys’ Association, the Montgomery County Bar Association and the Maryland Hispanic Bar Association. Ms. Smith earned her Juris Doctorate from the American University, Washington College of Law in Washington, D.C. and her Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of Maryland, College Park. She is a lifelong resident of Montgomery County, graduating from Georgetown Visitation College Preparatory School in Washington, D.C. She speaks fluent Spanish and is of Chilean and Jamaican descent.
Practices Areas
Criminal Defense
DUI and DWI
Language
Spanish
Contact
Reviews
I was charged with a DWI along with 5 other traffic violations. Raquel was very helpful and made sure that everything was taken care of. I expressed to her the importance of me being able to return to work and she made that happen. I received a pbj for one of the charges and all others were dropped including the DWI. I hope I never need her services again but if I did she literally is stored in my phone and I would not hesitate to call her again.
I was on the verge of what I thought to be a lengthy license suspension, years of probation, and jail time due to a night of bad decisions. I came across Raquel’s firm after hours of looking for an attorney to represent me and that was probably the best call I ever made in my life. She was highly flexible about our free consultation and was able to meet on a Mother’s Day Sunday morning in which she was very down to earth about the situation and the potential outcomes for my case. The date of our MVA hearing, I accidentally went to the wrong location and she assured me everything would be fine. I had already created an Uber budget based on the MVA horror stories I’ve heard, but was able to walk out being able to drive again. The day of trial, Raquel was very positive even though we were dealing with a judge that was known to give unfavorable rulings for my type of case. Even though Raquel was juggling multiple trials that morning, she was always being very proactive during pretrial and I never once felt uneasy about the proceeding. During the trial, Raquel showed extreme confidence when presenting my case. She even provided specificity about a particular, yet important detail in the law that may have forced the judge to commit to an unfavorable sentence. In the end, I walked out with no jailtime, no probabtion, and only a small fine. I would highly recommend Raquel if you are in need of serious legal and affordable legal counsel.
I faced four charges in criminal court for traffic violations. My record had been clean for the past ten+ years, but if found guilty there could have been serious repercussions. Potential jail time, fines, and suspension of my license. The gravity of my situation didn't penetrate me until 2-3 days before my scheduled hearing. I contacted her firm and she agreed to take on my case with less than a day to go. Raquel barely had 24 hours to work on my case. I don't know how she did it but she made the time and put in the effort to give me fair representation. She had court the same day for another case but made the time in her schedule to get to the courtroom for my hearing on-time that afternoon. Raquel was very clear and confident about what I could expect. She was punctual with her responses to any and all of my questions and did a great job putting me at my ease. Due to her expertise and knowledge of criminal defense all of the charges against me were dropped! I received a reduced sentence of a petty misdemeanor, kept my license, did not have to pay any more fines, and kept my clean driving record! If there was a way that the day could have gone so it turned out as ideally as possible, then thats exactly what she did for me. She figured out my case with almost no notice, then resolved my situation in the most satisfactory manner possible. You couldn't ask for a more competent lawyer. She made our judicial system look easy, and that is WHAT YOU NEED when you hire a lawyer! I was very lucky to have her represent me. And if you secure her counsel then you will be too!
Let me start by saying that being someone who has not ever been in the system, let alone this type of situation I was very frustrated and alarmed. Raquel did her duty to make me feel comfortable and put my mind at ease right off the bat during my 1st consultation with her. She is very professional and knowledgeable, and hit a home run for me at court. I could not have been more happier with results! She is truly passionate about what she does and it shows in her demeanor. I am greatful to have had her in my corner and would recommend her to anyone needing legal advice or representation. Thank you Raquel!
I was referred by numerous people to talk to Raquel on a traffic charge that I believed I was wrongly accused on. I was pulled over and detained for going 10 over speed limit but was accused of driving under the influence of alcohol. I then volunteered to administer breathalyzer test and reading came back that I was no where near intoxicated and legal to drive. Still these officers insisted that I be held and prosecuted. As soon as I met and spoke with Raquel,my nerves were calmed as she assured me how she would fight not only keep me from wrongful jailtime or fines but also to get it lowered to a simple speeding ticket. Needles to say. Court day finally arrived and Raquel represented me so smooth and honest. Not only using facts and her knowledge but her approach was something out of a movie. I had no jail time. I had no fines and she also got me out of a traffic violation. I now have a clean record because of the wise choice to hire Raquel. Many ppl face jail time for being falsely accused. Raquel will fight for you!
This was the best money we have ever spent. Raquel asked all the right questions and handled everything with professionalism and courtesy. Having an accident where the police hit you is something we thought would never go our way. However she got us a not guilty and my driving record remains clean. Thank You Raquel
At this juncture of my life I'd hoped I'd never become too familiar with our legal system. Attorney Smith expeditiously handled my case and made it clear she was there for me to find a resolution as soon as possible. No one likes to feel like they did something wrong no matter how unintentional it may have been. I think it's fair to say Attorney Smith put me at ease rather quick, and kept a mistake of mine from turning into something much larger. I've been a military man most my life and I think this counselor possesses the values we always coveted in the military. These were: loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity, and personal courage. If ever needed? I will call upon this consummate professional again!
I contacted Raquel regarding a case that I was initially pretty worried about. I cold called the main office line and after just a brief moment of speaking with an assistant I was talking to Raquel and giving her the details of the case. She was very confident and reassuring and immediately gave me a list of actions I should take to help obtain a better result. She gave me her cell number and I was able to call or text her throughout the whole process if I had any questions. As the court date got closer she touched base with me and we ironed out some of the final details. The resulting decision on my case was far better than anything I was hoping for and I can’t help but think that it was due to Raquel’s immediate course of action to get ahead of the charges. I seriously hope I never need her help again, but if I did I wouldnt hesitate in calling her back!
I am beyond happy with my experience working with Raquel. You can tell she is a genuine person who really cares and is in this career for all of the right reasons. We had great success with my case and I would reccomend her to anyone!
Thank you for providing urgently needed legal services in a time frame of only a day prior to a peace order hearing where i was the respondent. She got to the facts of my case in an incisive and orderly manner and determined without deliberation how to present my case in the hearing the next day. She stayed in constant communication with minimizing my stress with my potential case outcome. She stayed in constant communication with me throughout the process which minimized my stress associated with my potential case outcome. From beginning to end Raquel was extremely knowledgeable in the law. Raquel answered all of my questions and was always available when I needed her. She managed to get a potentially Final Peace Order ruling dismissed through negotiations prior to this hearing with plaintiff's attorney, thus obviating potential inflammatory, embarrassing emotional testimony by the plaintiff at the hearing, thus saving face for us both. I highly recommend her for counsel.
I was charged with a DWI along with 5 other traffic violations. Raquel was very helpful and made sure that everything was taken care of. I expressed to her the importance of me being able to return to work and she made that happen. I received a pbj for one of the charges and all others were dropped including the DWI. I hope I never need her services again but if I did she literally is stored in my phone and I would not hesitate to call her again.
I was on the verge of what I thought to be a lengthy license suspension, years of probation, and jail time due to a night of bad decisions. I came across Raquel’s firm after hours of looking for an attorney to represent me and that was probably the best call I ever made in my life. She was highly flexible about our free consultation and was able to meet on a Mother’s Day Sunday morning in which she was very down to earth about the situation and the potential outcomes for my case. The date of our MVA hearing, I accidentally went to the wrong location and she assured me everything would be fine. I had already created an Uber budget based on the MVA horror stories I’ve heard, but was able to walk out being able to drive again. The day of trial, Raquel was very positive even though we were dealing with a judge that was known to give unfavorable rulings for my type of case. Even though Raquel was juggling multiple trials that morning, she was always being very proactive during pretrial and I never once felt uneasy about the proceeding. During the trial, Raquel showed extreme confidence when presenting my case. She even provided specificity about a particular, yet important detail in the law that may have forced the judge to commit to an unfavorable sentence. In the end, I walked out with no jailtime, no probabtion, and only a small fine. I would highly recommend Raquel if you are in need of serious legal and affordable legal counsel.
I faced four charges in criminal court for traffic violations. My record had been clean for the past ten+ years, but if found guilty there could have been serious repercussions. Potential jail time, fines, and suspension of my license. The gravity of my situation didn't penetrate me until 2-3 days before my scheduled hearing. I contacted her firm and she agreed to take on my case with less than a day to go. Raquel barely had 24 hours to work on my case. I don't know how she did it but she made the time and put in the effort to give me fair representation. She had court the same day for another case but made the time in her schedule to get to the courtroom for my hearing on-time that afternoon. Raquel was very clear and confident about what I could expect. She was punctual with her responses to any and all of my questions and did a great job putting me at my ease. Due to her expertise and knowledge of criminal defense all of the charges against me were dropped! I received a reduced sentence of a petty misdemeanor, kept my license, did not have to pay any more fines, and kept my clean driving record! If there was a way that the day could have gone so it turned out as ideally as possible, then thats exactly what she did for me. She figured out my case with almost no notice, then resolved my situation in the most satisfactory manner possible. You couldn't ask for a more competent lawyer. She made our judicial system look easy, and that is WHAT YOU NEED when you hire a lawyer! I was very lucky to have her represent me. And if you secure her counsel then you will be too!
Let me start by saying that being someone who has not ever been in the system, let alone this type of situation I was very frustrated and alarmed. Raquel did her duty to make me feel comfortable and put my mind at ease right off the bat during my 1st consultation with her. She is very professional and knowledgeable, and hit a home run for me at court. I could not have been more happier with results! She is truly passionate about what she does and it shows in her demeanor. I am greatful to have had her in my corner and would recommend her to anyone needing legal advice or representation. Thank you Raquel!
I was referred by numerous people to talk to Raquel on a traffic charge that I believed I was wrongly accused on. I was pulled over and detained for going 10 over speed limit but was accused of driving under the influence of alcohol. I then volunteered to administer breathalyzer test and reading came back that I was no where near intoxicated and legal to drive. Still these officers insisted that I be held and prosecuted. As soon as I met and spoke with Raquel,my nerves were calmed as she assured me how she would fight not only keep me from wrongful jailtime or fines but also to get it lowered to a simple speeding ticket. Needles to say. Court day finally arrived and Raquel represented me so smooth and honest. Not only using facts and her knowledge but her approach was something out of a movie. I had no jail time. I had no fines and she also got me out of a traffic violation. I now have a clean record because of the wise choice to hire Raquel. Many ppl face jail time for being falsely accused. Raquel will fight for you!
This was the best money we have ever spent. Raquel asked all the right questions and handled everything with professionalism and courtesy. Having an accident where the police hit you is something we thought would never go our way. However she got us a not guilty and my driving record remains clean. Thank You Raquel
At this juncture of my life I'd hoped I'd never become too familiar with our legal system. Attorney Smith expeditiously handled my case and made it clear she was there for me to find a resolution as soon as possible. No one likes to feel like they did something wrong no matter how unintentional it may have been. I think it's fair to say Attorney Smith put me at ease rather quick, and kept a mistake of mine from turning into something much larger. I've been a military man most my life and I think this counselor possesses the values we always coveted in the military. These were: loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity, and personal courage. If ever needed? I will call upon this consummate professional again!
I contacted Raquel regarding a case that I was initially pretty worried about. I cold called the main office line and after just a brief moment of speaking with an assistant I was talking to Raquel and giving her the details of the case. She was very confident and reassuring and immediately gave me a list of actions I should take to help obtain a better result. She gave me her cell number and I was able to call or text her throughout the whole process if I had any questions. As the court date got closer she touched base with me and we ironed out some of the final details. The resulting decision on my case was far better than anything I was hoping for and I can’t help but think that it was due to Raquel’s immediate course of action to get ahead of the charges. I seriously hope I never need her help again, but if I did I wouldnt hesitate in calling her back!
I am beyond happy with my experience working with Raquel. You can tell she is a genuine person who really cares and is in this career for all of the right reasons. We had great success with my case and I would reccomend her to anyone!
Thank you for providing urgently needed legal services in a time frame of only a day prior to a peace order hearing where i was the respondent. She got to the facts of my case in an incisive and orderly manner and determined without deliberation how to present my case in the hearing the next day. She stayed in constant communication with minimizing my stress with my potential case outcome. She stayed in constant communication with me throughout the process which minimized my stress associated with my potential case outcome. From beginning to end Raquel was extremely knowledgeable in the law. Raquel answered all of my questions and was always available when I needed her. She managed to get a potentially Final Peace Order ruling dismissed through negotiations prior to this hearing with plaintiff's attorney, thus obviating potential inflammatory, embarrassing emotional testimony by the plaintiff at the hearing, thus saving face for us both. I highly recommend her for counsel.
I was charged with a DWI along with 5 other traffic violations. Raquel was very helpful and made sure that everything was taken care of. I expressed to her the importance of me being able to return to work and she made that happen. I received a pbj for one of the charges and all others were dropped including the DWI. I hope I never need her services again but if I did she literally is stored in my phone and I would not hesitate to call her again.
I was on the verge of what I thought to be a lengthy license suspension, years of probation, and jail time due to a night of bad decisions. I came across Raquel’s firm after hours of looking for an attorney to represent me and that was probably the best call I ever made in my life. She was highly flexible about our free consultation and was able to meet on a Mother’s Day Sunday morning in which she was very down to earth about the situation and the potential outcomes for my case. The date of our MVA hearing, I accidentally went to the wrong location and she assured me everything would be fine. I had already created an Uber budget based on the MVA horror stories I’ve heard, but was able to walk out being able to drive again. The day of trial, Raquel was very positive even though we were dealing with a judge that was known to give unfavorable rulings for my type of case. Even though Raquel was juggling multiple trials that morning, she was always being very proactive during pretrial and I never once felt uneasy about the proceeding. During the trial, Raquel showed extreme confidence when presenting my case. She even provided specificity about a particular, yet important detail in the law that may have forced the judge to commit to an unfavorable sentence. In the end, I walked out with no jailtime, no probabtion, and only a small fine. I would highly recommend Raquel if you are in need of serious legal and affordable legal counsel.
I faced four charges in criminal court for traffic violations. My record had been clean for the past ten+ years, but if found guilty there could have been serious repercussions. Potential jail time, fines, and suspension of my license. The gravity of my situation didn't penetrate me until 2-3 days before my scheduled hearing. I contacted her firm and she agreed to take on my case with less than a day to go. Raquel barely had 24 hours to work on my case. I don't know how she did it but she made the time and put in the effort to give me fair representation. She had court the same day for another case but made the time in her schedule to get to the courtroom for my hearing on-time that afternoon. Raquel was very clear and confident about what I could expect. She was punctual with her responses to any and all of my questions and did a great job putting me at my ease. Due to her expertise and knowledge of criminal defense all of the charges against me were dropped! I received a reduced sentence of a petty misdemeanor, kept my license, did not have to pay any more fines, and kept my clean driving record! If there was a way that the day could have gone so it turned out as ideally as possible, then thats exactly what she did for me. She figured out my case with almost no notice, then resolved my situation in the most satisfactory manner possible. You couldn't ask for a more competent lawyer. She made our judicial system look easy, and that is WHAT YOU NEED when you hire a lawyer! I was very lucky to have her represent me. And if you secure her counsel then you will be too!
Let me start by saying that being someone who has not ever been in the system, let alone this type of situation I was very frustrated and alarmed. Raquel did her duty to make me feel comfortable and put my mind at ease right off the bat during my 1st consultation with her. She is very professional and knowledgeable, and hit a home run for me at court. I could not have been more happier with results! She is truly passionate about what she does and it shows in her demeanor. I am greatful to have had her in my corner and would recommend her to anyone needing legal advice or representation. Thank you Raquel!
I was referred by numerous people to talk to Raquel on a traffic charge that I believed I was wrongly accused on. I was pulled over and detained for going 10 over speed limit but was accused of driving under the influence of alcohol. I then volunteered to administer breathalyzer test and reading came back that I was no where near intoxicated and legal to drive. Still these officers insisted that I be held and prosecuted. As soon as I met and spoke with Raquel,my nerves were calmed as she assured me how she would fight not only keep me from wrongful jailtime or fines but also to get it lowered to a simple speeding ticket. Needles to say. Court day finally arrived and Raquel represented me so smooth and honest. Not only using facts and her knowledge but her approach was something out of a movie. I had no jail time. I had no fines and she also got me out of a traffic violation. I now have a clean record because of the wise choice to hire Raquel. Many ppl face jail time for being falsely accused. Raquel will fight for you!
This was the best money we have ever spent. Raquel asked all the right questions and handled everything with professionalism and courtesy. Having an accident where the police hit you is something we thought would never go our way. However she got us a not guilty and my driving record remains clean. Thank You Raquel
At this juncture of my life I'd hoped I'd never become too familiar with our legal system. Attorney Smith expeditiously handled my case and made it clear she was there for me to find a resolution as soon as possible. No one likes to feel like they did something wrong no matter how unintentional it may have been. I think it's fair to say Attorney Smith put me at ease rather quick, and kept a mistake of mine from turning into something much larger. I've been a military man most my life and I think this counselor possesses the values we always coveted in the military. These were: loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity, and personal courage. If ever needed? I will call upon this consummate professional again!
I contacted Raquel regarding a case that I was initially pretty worried about. I cold called the main office line and after just a brief moment of speaking with an assistant I was talking to Raquel and giving her the details of the case. She was very confident and reassuring and immediately gave me a list of actions I should take to help obtain a better result. She gave me her cell number and I was able to call or text her throughout the whole process if I had any questions. As the court date got closer she touched base with me and we ironed out some of the final details. The resulting decision on my case was far better than anything I was hoping for and I can’t help but think that it was due to Raquel’s immediate course of action to get ahead of the charges. I seriously hope I never need her help again, but if I did I wouldnt hesitate in calling her back!
I am beyond happy with my experience working with Raquel. You can tell she is a genuine person who really cares and is in this career for all of the right reasons. We had great success with my case and I would reccomend her to anyone!
Thank you for providing urgently needed legal services in a time frame of only a day prior to a peace order hearing where i was the respondent. She got to the facts of my case in an incisive and orderly manner and determined without deliberation how to present my case in the hearing the next day. She stayed in constant communication with minimizing my stress with my potential case outcome. She stayed in constant communication with me throughout the process which minimized my stress associated with my potential case outcome. From beginning to end Raquel was extremely knowledgeable in the law. Raquel answered all of my questions and was always available when I needed her. She managed to get a potentially Final Peace Order ruling dismissed through negotiations prior to this hearing with plaintiff's attorney, thus obviating potential inflammatory, embarrassing emotional testimony by the plaintiff at the hearing, thus saving face for us both. I highly recommend her for counsel.