Rachel M. Yazbeck
Rachel M. Yazbeck grew up in the Covington area and attended St. Scholastica Academy for high school. Ms. Yazbeck went to Louisiana State University for her bachelor’s degree and pursued her law degree at Mississippi College School of Law graduating in May of 2007. While in Law School Ms. Yazbeck was awarded the Law School Deans List, Spring 2006, Fall 2006, American Jurisprudence (best paper) Award in Louisiana Civil Procedure, Advocacy Award, 2006, and the John M. Collette Scholarship, 2007.
While in law school, Ms. Yazbeck worked as a Law Clerk for Farmer and Burns, LLP and Stevens and Ward, P.A. Ms. Yazbeck was also admitted to limited practice as a Legal Extern with the Hinds County Prosecutor’s Office. Additionally, Ms. Yazbeck worked for the Mississippi Immigrants Rights Alliance to assist in the creation of an Immigration Law booklet for the Mississippi Bar Foundation through the IOLTA grant program.
Upon graduation Ms. Yazbeck began her practice with her father Stephen Yazbeck, Esq. primarily in the field of criminal law. Later, Ms. Yazbeck worked for the Law Office of James A. Williams, handling many criminal trials. In 2009, Ms. Yazbeck created her own firm and had a successful practice for the last decade.
Throughout her career, Ms. Yazbeck has developed a reputation as a fierce critic of social and legal injustice. This drive has compelled her to accept numerous difficult criminal cases with many resulting in acquittals, dismissals or exceptional plea bargains. Through hard work and dedication, Ms. Yazbeck developed a reputation for honesty, aggressiveness and fairness.
Ms. Yazbeck is a founding partner in Shah, Yazbeck, and Almerico, LLP. Ms. Yazbeck is an experienced trial attorney, who takes client cases seriously and handles them with professional efficiency. She understands that you rely on her knowledge and expertise in dealing with your criminal or personal injury matter and will make sure your questions are answered while keeping you fully informed every step of the way.
Ms. Yazbeck is admitted to practice in all in al Louisiana State Courts and in Federal Court in the Eastern District of Louisiana.
Ms. Yazbeck is an active member in the following professional associations:
- Executive Committee Member, St. Thomas Moore Inn of Court
- Member, Top 100 Trial Lawyers of The National Trial Lawyers Association
- Member, Top 40 under 40 Trial Lawyers of The National Trial Lawyers Association
- Member, Super Lawyers Rising Star
- Member, National Criminal Defense Lawyers Association
- Member, Louisiana Criminal Defense Lawyers Association
- Member, Federal Bar Association
- Criminal Law Chair, 22nd Judicial District Bar Association
- Member, Louisiana State Bar Association
- Member, Better Business Bureau
Areas of Practice
- Criminal Law
- Personal Injury
- Criminal Appeals
Vast experience in numerous criminal trials with many notable victories such as:
- Directed verdict granted during Possession of Cocaine trial in State v. Andrew Smith in the 22nd Judicial District in St. Tammany Parish. (Case no. 444315)
- Not guilty of Second Degree Murder in State v. Joshua Reinhardt in the 22nd Judicial District in Washington Parish. (Case no. 07-CR3-096856) Mr. Reinhardt was facing life upon conviction)
- Post-conviction relief granted in Armed Robbery case in State v. Larry Legania in Orleans Parish Criminal District Court. (Case No. 404717) (Released from Angola)
- Not Guilty of Aggravated Rape in State v. Raymond Taylor in the 22nd Judicial District in St. Tammany Parish. (Case no. 503796) Mr. Taylor was facing life upon conviction)
- Not Guilty of Possession of Cocaine in State v. Warren Patterson in the 22nd Judicial District Court in St. Tammany Parish (Case no. 513267)
- Not Guilty of Possession of Cocaine in State v. April Rester in the 22nd Judicial District Court in St. Tammany Parish. (Case no. 524608)
- Guilty of Simple Battery lesser verdict of Second Degree Battery in State v. Murel Rainey, Jr. in the 22nd Judicial District Court in St. Tammany Parish (Case no. 530993) (Mr. Rainey was facing life in prison upon conviction due to criminal status)
- Not Guilty of Distribution of Cocaine in State v. Therone Magee in the 22nd Judicial District Court in St. Tammany Parish (Case no. 512674) (Mr. Mage was facing life in prison upon conviction due to criminal status)
- Not Guilty of Simple Burglary, State v. Christopher Tyson in the 22nd Judicial District Court in St. Tammany Parish (Case no. 536808) (Mr. Tyson was facing life upon conviction due to criminal status)
- Not Guilty of Aggravated Rape, State v. Adrian Cottman in the 22nd Judicial District Court in St. Tammany Parish (Case No. 538058) ( Cottman was facing life upon conviction)
- Not Guilty of all Counts: Attempted Murder, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Discharge of a Firearm During a Violent Crime, and Aggravated Assault with a Firearm, State v. Devin Garrison in the Criminal District Court for the Parish of Orleans. (Case No. 522363)
- Not Guilty of Forcible Rape, State v. Jeremy Savell in the 22nd Judicial District Court in St. Tammany Parish (Case No. 554391)
- Distribution of Schedule III Dismissed, State v. Sheldon Lewis in the 22nd Judicial District Court in the Parish of St. Tammany. (Case No. 500222) (Mr. Lewis was facing life upon conviction due to criminal status)
- Aggravate Burglary reduced to Simple Criminal Trespass, State of Louisiana v. Claude Hulin in the 22nd Judicial District Court in the Parish of St. Tammany (Case No. 599178)
- Aggravated Rape Dismissed, State of Louisiana v. Thomas Turner in the 21st Judicial District Court in the Parish of Tangipahoa
- Forcible Rape charges dismissed, State v. Leekiba Gholar in the 22nd Judicial District Court for the Parish of Washington (Case No. 17-CR10-134049)