Dedicated Criminal Defense Attorney Services

ABOGADO DEDICADO A LA DEFENSA CRIMINAL EN CHATTANOOGA

I am committed to providing exceptional legal representation in criminal defense. My focus is on serving the local community with integrity and expertise.

Your Trusted Legal Advocate

Committed to Your Defense

With a passion for justice, I prioritize quality service and personalized attention. I strive to protect your rights and achieve the best possible outcomes.

I am a Florida native, originally from Miami, Florida and now a proud resident of the Great State of Tennessee. I provide legal services to the Greater Chattanooga Area. I am a member of the Florida Bar (2010), the District of Columbia Bar (2017), and  was sworn into the Tennessee Bar in 2024. 

Ricardo J. Rodriguez (TN) a/k/a Ricardo J. Rodriguez Vacas (FL & DC)

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATION

Member of the Tennessee Bar (#041679)

Member of the Florida Bar (#0078397)

Member of the District of Columbia Bar (#1045424)

Member of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida

Member of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida

Tennessee Notary Public, commissioned through April 4th, 2029

EDUCATION:

St. Thomas University, Miami, Florida Class of 2006 Juris Doctor (J.D.) Activities: Phi Alpha Delta Fraternity, St. Thomas More Society, Hispanic American Law Society, Pro Bono work with CHARLEE and Habitat for Humanity. Awards: Constitutional Law II Book Award.

Florida International University, Miami, Florida Class of 2003 Bachelors of English (B.A.) Activities: Sigma Alpha Mu Fraternity, Phi Alpha Delta Pre-Law Society, and Cuban-American Student Association. Summer Study Abroad: Shakespeare at Stratford Program, London, England.

St. John Vianney College Seminary, Miami, Florida Class of 2002 Bachelors of Philosophy (B.A.) with minors in Theology and Spanish. Activities: Senior Class President, House Coordinator, Head Sacristan. Mission work: Summer Migrant Worker Program at Danville, Virginia, Hospital and Educational Ministries throughout Miami-Dade County. *Seminarian for the Archdiocese of Miami (Priestly formation) 1998-2002.

American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon 2006-2007 No Degree (Post Law School Studies) Cultural and language studies of Middle Eastern Society and Arabic language. Classes in Elementary Formal and Lebanese Arabic. Activities: Jiu-jitsu club

PROFESSIONAL WORK EXPERIENCE:

Ricardo J. Rodriguez, Attorney at Law, Chattanooga, TN October 2024-Present (full time) Solo Practice in Greater Chattanooga focused primarily on Criminal Defense. Limited practice in civil and family.

Olivencia & Cribben Law Office, L.L.C., Chattanooga, TN March 2024 – October 2024 (full time 40 hours per week). Small busy and fast paced law firm handling immigration, criminal, civil, and family matters. Weekly court appearances in Immigration and TN State courts. Experience with all phases of client representation from client intake to court appearances. Immigration experience and TN courts experience with criminal cases (general sessions level), civil, conservatorships, and family law. Most work done in Hamilton County, TN.

Rodriguez Vacas Law Firm, L.L.C., Miami, FL Sept. 2015-April 2023 (fulltime/part time 40/20+ hours per week). General Law Practice-Solo Practitioner. Managing Member Attorney responsible for solo law practice handling legal matters ranging from family law & divorce, immigration, estate planning, property issues, compliance, contracts, labor law, construction, & general civil litigation. Experience with individual work management and working with others. Responsible for all aspects of managing firm such as law practice, client intake, consultations, retention, legal and case analysis, mediation, settlement, court appearances, and litigation. Former Florida Notary Public: resigned due to moving out of state.

TRUSTPOINT.ONE, Atlanta, Georgia, July 2021-February 2024 (full-time 40 hours per week +/-) Document Review attorney working remotely. Documents reviewed with a team and under supervision for litigation discovery (Document Review Attorney for Nelson Mullins, Kilpatrick Townsend, Nexus Pruitt).

RJR Construction, Inc., Miami, Fl. 2007-2021* Legal Counsel / Project Manager Local family-owned construction company focusing primarily on public projects. Served throughout several years at different capacities as needed. As Legal counsel for family-owned construction company in South Florida, provided legal expertise on compliance issues ranging from contract compliance and execution, labor laws and regulations, to public bidding and governmental procurement matters. Handled disputes, lien matters and litigation. As project manager, ensured safety/legal compliance as well as work performance efficiency. Represented company at various government agencies and interacted with public and private representatives at various levels regarding construction and contract compliance. Employment periods varied and hours varied from full time to part time as needed.

The Law Offices of Ricardo J. Rodriguez Vacas, P.A., Miami, FL. Jan.2011-Sept. 2014 (full-time 40 hours per week +/-) General Law and Mediation Practice. Responsibilities same as indicated above under LLC in addition to being a Florida Supreme Court certified Circuit-Civil Mediator for this period. Responsibilities included handling alternative dispute resolution matters, in particular foreclosure cases. Related legal work: Document Review for Special Counsel, Miami, FL. 2013 Analyzed legal documents and reached conclusions and determinations on their relevance to the case at hand on various projects. Former Florida Supreme Court Certified Circuit-Civil Mediator(#26460R) Expired.

Languages: - Languages: Fully fluent native level in English & Spanish. Intermediate level in French. Beginner level in Lebanese Arabic.

Social: Past Board of Directors Member of Snapper Village Condo. Association 2021-2023 (Miami, Fl.), Chattanooga Bar Association (2022-2023). - Media/Press: Past weekly legal columnist for Miami's oldest Spanish newspaper, Diario Las Americas See newspaper columns at http://www.diariolasamericas.com/contenidos/ opinion.html. Past Legal columnist for Yahoo! Noticias en Español. Search: Yahoo Noticias, Ricardo J. Rodriguez Vacas, Esq., Past TV and Radio Experience.

Miscellaneous: Occupational Safety and Health Administration 30-hour certified (OSHA#21-602013170), Completed 200-hour Florida Insurance General Lines Course (2019)