Rachel M. Chapman

Ms. Chapman is an experienced trial lawyer who has taken serious criminal cases before juries and is prepared to go to trial when necessary to protect her clients’ interests. Her practice spans all stages of criminal proceedings, from investigation and pretrial litigation through jury trial and sentencing, as well as post-conviction and resentencing proceedings. She has handled complex felony matters involving extensive discovery, expert witnesses, forensic evidence, and difficult factual and legal issues.

Before joining Bay Area Criminal Lawyers, PC, Ms. Chapman practiced at Mirador Law, where she represented clients in misdemeanor and felony matters throughout the Bay Area. She began her legal career at Gagen, McCoy, McMahon, Koss, Markowitz & Raines, where she spent nearly seven years working alongside and learning from some of the East Bay’s most seasoned criminal defense attorneys. During her time at Gagen McCoy, Ms. Chapman built a strong foundation in criminal litigation and trial practice while working on cases ranging from misdemeanors to complex and serious felonies.

A lifelong East Bay native, Ms. Chapman is a proud “Double Trojan.” She earned her Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and Global Business from the University of Southern California in 2013 and her Juris Doctor from the USC Gould School of Law in 2016. Following her admission to the California Bar, Ms. Chapman immediately entered criminal defense practice and has remained exclusively devoted to the field ever since.

Ms. Chapman is an active member of the Contra Costa County legal community. She serves on the Boards of the Criminal Law Section and Women’s Section of the Contra Costa County Bar Association, as well as the Editorial Board of Contra Costa Lawyer magazine. Ms. Chapman has been published numerous times in Contra Costa Lawyer and has served as a Guest Editor of the magazine three times since 2023. Ms. Chapman joined the Board of Directors of the CCCBA in 2025, and was elected to serve on the Executive Committee effective 2027.

Ms. Chapman has also served as an attorney with the Contra Costa County Criminal Conflicts Program, representing indigent adults and juveniles charged with felony offenses. In addition to handling her own appointed cases, she has provided legal research and writing assistance to fellow criminal defense attorneys through the Program’s Attorney Support Division.

Ms. Chapman brings to Bay Area Criminal Lawyers, PC nearly a decade of courtroom experience, extensive work on serious and complex criminal cases, and a commitment to being ready to try a case when the circumstances demand it. She represents each client with the preparation, judgment, and determination required when a person’s freedom and future are at stake.