Rachel Dowd

racheldowd@dowdlaw.net

Rachel received her Bachelors in International Studies from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 2009 and her Juris Doctor from Washington University in St. Louis in 2016.

Prior to joining Dowd & Dowd as an associate in April 2020, Rachel was a trial attorney for the Missouri State Public Defenders Office in the City of St. Louis for three years. In that position she ardently advocated for her clients in and out of the courtroom as lead attorney in ten jury trials and over a dozen bench trials. She assisted as second chair in numerous jury trials as well.

In addition, Rachel successfully negotiated with the prosecution for favorable dispositions when her clients did not wish to take their case to trial. In cases where the prosecutors would not negotiate, she successfully persuaded Judges to impose more reasonable sentences for her clients. Rachel also specialized in representing youthful clients in Family Court and Circuit Court.

While at Washington University School of Law Rachel focused her coursework on litigation, trial advocacy and criminal justice. Rachel was an active member of student organizations, participated in Moot Court Competition and Trial Advocacy Courses, and worked in four internships.

As a member of the American Constitution Society, Rachel volunteered with “Constitution in the Classroom,” an initiative to teach children in historically underserved neighborhoods about Government and the U.S. Constitution. As a member of the Women’s Law Caucus, Rachel was the Donations Chairperson for the 2015 WLC Annual Auction to benefit the Public Interest Stipend Fund for fellow law students.

In 2014, Rachel interned at Fiscalia del Medio Ambiente (FIMA) in Santiago, Chile where she helped draft a comparative analysis of U.S. and Chilean land use and zoning law to be submitted in a congressional report. In 2015, as a part of the Civil Rights, Community Justice, and Mediation Clinic she interned at Arch City Defenders, a local non-profit aimed at holistic legal advocacy for disadvantaged clients and communities.

Also in 2015, Rachel interned at the Missouri State Public Defender in the City of St. Louis where she drafted and argued Rule 13-motions, conducted client interviews and provided research to trial lawyers. Rachel returned to the Public Defender to intern during the Spring 2016 semester, and was ultimately hired as an Assistant Public Defender after passing the bar exam.

While at Washington University Law School Rachel received the Scholar in Law Award (100% Tuition merit-based scholarship), was on Spring 2013 Dean’s List, First Year Excellence in Oral Advocacy Award, and the CALI Award for receiving the highest grade in Legal Practice. Rachel is a certified Trainer for the National Juvenile Defender Center’s Juvenile Training Immersion Program (JTIP).



Rachel is licensed to practice law in Missouri and is admitted to practice before the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri.