ABOUT US
Rachel E. Carmona, Attorney-at-Law
Rachel E. Carmona is a Louisville native. She focuses her practice on criminal defense and immigration law, as well as family law and injuries. She is licensed to practice law in Kentucky, and federally before the Executive Office of Immigration Review, the Board of Immigration Appeals, before the Eastern and Western Districts of Kentucky, and before both the Sixth and Seventh Courts of Appeals. She has appeared before the Chicago, Memphis, Louisville, and varying Texas and Florida immigration courts. She is also a member of the American Immigration Lawyer Association.
She graduated from Assumption High School, Rhodes College, and the University of Louisville Law School. During college, she studied abroad in both Morelia, Mexico, as well as Havana, Cuba. During law school, she studied abroad in Guadalajara, Mexico at UNAM law school.
She is a passionate defender, and worked with refugees at Kentucky Refugee Ministries as well as at the Louisville Metro Public Defender as an Assistant Public Defender. Prior to Law School, she became a Certified Court Interpreter and interpreted Spanish at all levels of court proceedings throughout Kentucky.
Zoelee Lopez Velez, Associate Attorney
Zoelee Velez Lopez graduated Magna Cum Laude from Universidad Interamericana, Law School of Puerto Rico in 2010, and is admitted to practice law in the Commonwealth of Kentucky and Puerto Rico. She is an associate whose work is focused on immigration cases, specifically focusing on obtaining lawful status.
Born in Puerto Rico, she is fluent in both Spanish and English. While in law school, she volunteered her services to the Legal Aid Clinic of Puerto Rico where she represented juvenile defendants and advocated for victims of domestic violence. She moved to Kentucky in 2014 and started working as a Researcher for the Louisville Metro Human Relations Commission, which started the implementation of the 20 Year Action Plan for Fair Housing and developed the Fair Housing Assessment Tool.
While working with the Louisville Metro Human Relations Commission, she was able to see firsthand how Hispanics struggle in their daily life because of their lack of a legal status. This drove her desire to work with immigrants to help them ease their immigration fight.
Johnna Selvage, Associate Attorney
Johnna A. Selvage is an associate attorney with Carmona Law whose practice focuses primarily on criminal defense, family and personal injury. She graduated from Sacred Heart Academy before going on to receive her Bachelors of Science from University of Kentucky. She then went on to the University of Louisville, Brandeis School of Law where she was an active member of the Moot Court Board and the Student Bar Association.
Johnna graduated with her J.D. in 2010 and began working for the Louisville Metro Public Defenders Office as an Assistant Public Defender. She also worked as a staff attorney for District Court Judge David Holton.
Ivonne Mora, Legal Assistant
Ivonne Mora works as a bilingual legal assistant and receptionist at Carmona Law. She graduated from Hanover College in 2016.
Before coming to work at Carmona Law, she worked in telephone marketing, and at Youth for Technology. While at Hanover, she blogged for Hanover Admissions and for Rakbo, a site for international students. She also served as Editor of Triangle, Hanover College's student newspaper. She was also involved in Kaleidoscope, Latin Rythms, and worked as a tutor and peer mentor. Of Peruvian descent, Ivonne is passionate about social justice policy and her goal is to attend law school and work as an attorney.
Practice Areas
Rachel Carmona represents each client with individual care and compassion. Rachel goes above and beyond to provide personal service and legal counsel. Rachel will meet with you personally and is accessible by phone, e-mail, and even text messaging. Whether you have a simple traffic ticket, complex divorce issues, or have been hurt in an accident, Rachel will guide you through the process, taking the heavy burden and worries away so that you can have peace of mind.
Criminal Defense
As a criminal defense attorney, Rachel has defended nearly every offense including: DUI, theft, drug offenses, kidnapping, etc. Rachel is available to represent you during all phases of prosecution against you. Further, she has experience in all phases of trial in District and Circuit court. Whether it is a simple traffic ticket or you have a family member behind bars, Rachel can help and will fight for you.
Immigration
Immigration is broad, extensive and extremely complex. Rachel provides deportation defense as well as petitions for family members so that they can be reunited in the United States. Immigration litigation can be extremely burdensome and Rachel can guide you through these processes. If you have a family member in ICE custody or who is facing deporation proceedings, call Rachel today.
Injuries
If you have been injured as a result of someone else's negligence, or if you have been injured at work, you may need a Personal Injury or a Worker's Compensation Attorney. Work-related or Personal injury cases are contingency-based, which means that you do not have to pay attorney's fees unless you win. Call Rachel today if you have been injured.
Family Law
Whether you are considering a divorce, have child custody or visitation issues, have an EPO/DVO hearing upcoming, or would like to create a prenuptial agreement, Rachel can help you through the process. Whether you are in the middle of a divorce or fighting over child custody, Rachel can stand up for your rights during a time of separation and change.