Rachelle Sousa

Rachelle Sousa is a seasoned litigation attorney with over a decade of diverse experience in personal injury, business defense, and civil litigation. Prior to joining Attorneys Jo Ann Hoffman & Associates, P.A., Ms. Sousa practiced at several prominent national and regional law firms, where she represented injured individuals, Fortune 500 companies, national retailers, insurance carriers, and businesses in complex, high-exposure civil litigation. Her experience included catastrophic personal injury, wrongful death, premises liability, and high-profile litigation involving matters of significant public interest. Having represented both plaintiffs and defendants, Ms. Sousa brings a unique perspective that allows her to anticipate defense strategies and effectively advocate for her clients.


Driven by a passion for justice and advocacy, Rachelle pursued law to protect the rights of individuals. Her early work at a refugee resettlement agency gave her a firsthand understanding of the challenges faced by vulnerable communities and the importance of advocacy. Prior to law school, she worked with a refugee resettlement agency, assisting refugees as they rebuilt their lives in the United States. That experience inspired her commitment to protecting the rights of those in need and ultimately led her to pursue a legal career dedicated to advocacy and justice.

While attending St. Thomas University College of Law, Ms. Sousa further developed her interest in human rights and international law. After earning her Juris Doctor, she obtained a Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Intercultural Human Rights Law, where she completed her thesis evaluating International, National, and Florida's laws addressing the commercial sexual exploitation of children. Ms. Sousa earned a Certificate of Completion for specialized training in identifying, preventing, and addressing human trafficking and domestic servitude.

Since joining Attorneys Jo Ann Hoffman & Associates, P.A., Ms. Sousa has focused her practice on representing injured civilian contractors in Defense Base Act. She believes that every client deserves to be heard, treated with dignity and respect, and guided through the legal process with honesty and compassion. For Ms. Sousa, practicing law is about more than resolving legal disputes, it’s about helping people through one of the most difficult chapters of their lives.

Beyond her practice, Ms. Sousa is dedicated to public service. She has served as a Guardian ad Litem, represented clients in pro bono family law matters, and advocated for survivors of domestic violence by obtaining injunctions for protection. These experiences reflect her commitment to ensuring that every individual has access to compassionate and effective legal advocacy.