Rachel L. D. Thompson is a partner at Poarch Thompson. Rachel first moved to Southwest Virginia when she attended Liberty University School of Law (Lynchburg, Virginia), graduating in May 2012. The multiculturalism inherent in her native city (Philadelphia) and her family (Rachel’s mother was raised in South Africa during apartheid and her father was raised in Jamaica) instilled an early and profound love for diverse cultures, hope in the possibilities of immigration, and a fascination with other languages. From her early experience of faith and community (Rachel’s childhood church, which her father still pastors is a congregation with immigrants from myriad African and Caribbean countries) Rachel learned the value and power of moving beyond where you came from even while cherishing your roots. When Rachel watched her mother become a naturalized U.S. Citizen, it only cemented Rachel’s desire to work with multi-ethnic populations to assist with their immigration needs. 

 

She serves on the Federal Bar Association’s Immigration Law Section Advisory board and speaks annually at its national conferences. Rachel is also a member of its Young Lawyers Division Committee, which plans various continuing legal education programs for the ILS-YLD. Rachel also serves as chair of the FBA-ILS’ Law School Committee. She also serves on the Depaul Community Resources Board. She holds the position as secretary in the Salem/Roanoke County Bar Association. Rachel is licensed to practice law in Virginia (2013) as well as the U.S. Supreme Court. In 2018, Rachel won the FBA-ILS Younger Lawyer of the Year Award and in 2016, DePaul Community Resources presented her with the Alison Parker Young Woman of Achievement Award. As of Spring 2019, she is an adjunct professor at Liberty University School of Law.