Rachel Girod
Associate Attorney
Ms. Girod’s areas of practice include removal defense and litigation, criminal-related immigration matters, bond proceedings, family-based petitions, adjustment of status, criminal and non-criminal waivers of removability, and asylum and related claims for both detained and non-detained clients.
Ms. Girod has successfully represented individuals at the Baltimore, Richmond, Elizabeth, and Hyattsville Immigration Courts as well as the Board of Immigration Appeals.
She also supports Attorneys Eldridge and Crandell in various petitions for post-conviction relief for noncitizen clients with criminal convictions in Maryland Circuit Courts.
Drawing on her experience working on behalf of noncitizens and their families in various fields and capacities since 2009, Ms. Girod is a savvy, passionate, and knowledgeable advocate for her clients. Her Spanish fluency enables her to translate the complicated and often frustrating immigration process into a language both her clients and their families can comprehend.
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University of Baltimore, School of Law, J.D. Summa Cum Laude
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Gordon College, BA, Sociology & Spanish with Latin American Studies Minor
Past Legal Experience
Ms. Girod joined Eldridge/Crandell as an Associate after graduating Summa Cum Laude from the University of Baltimore and passing the bar exam in 2022. During law school, Ms. Girod represented noncitizens as a Student Attorney with the Immigrant Rights Clinic, where she successfully represented individuals before the Baltimore Immigration Court in their applications for asylum, and the Immigrant Justice Clinic, assisting victims of crimes and trafficking in their visa applications.
Ms. Girod was also a law clerk at Eldridge/Crandell for two years where she worked closely with Adam Crandell researching and drafting motions, briefs, and memoranda and working with clients on various immigration matters, particularly on issues involving immigration consequences of criminal convictions.
Prior to law school, Ms. Girod began her career in Massachusetts working in undergraduate admissions at her alma mater, specializing in admissions and financial aid for international and immigrant students. As Assistant Director of Admissions, Ms. Girod reformed institutional policy regarding scholarships and enrollment for noncitizen students at the school.
In 2017, Ms. Girod returned to her passion of immigrant rights as a paralegal at a Boston law firm that specialized in criminal law, immigration removal defense, and immigration benefit applications. There, she managed a voluminous case load, handling matters at the Boston Immigration Court, the National Visa Center, and US Citizenship and Immigration Services before relocating to her home state of Maryland.
What our Clients Say About Rachel
She Is The Best! La Mejor!
What truly sets Rachel apart is her unwavering commitment to client success. She was always accessible and responsive to my questions and concerns, providing timely updates and reassurance when needed. Her compassion and empathy made a stressful process much more manageable, and I felt supported every step of the way. Thanks to Rachel’s dedication and expertise, my case was resolved successfully and efficiently.