About Rachel L
Rachel L Terpstra built her academic foundation in business before turning to law. She earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from Grand Valley State University in 1992. Fifteen years later she completed her legal education at Western Michigan University Cooley Law School, receiving her J.D. in 2007.
After law school she entered private practice. Over the years she has developed a steady practice and by 2026 has nearly two decades of experience as a practicing attorney. Her career has unfolded in Michigan legal circles and has included work across a range of client matters.
Terpstra’s background in business informs the way she approaches legal problems. That earlier degree gave her familiarity with commercial concepts, budgeting and organizational structure. Those elements often shape how she evaluates client needs and frames solutions.
Her day-to-day work has required a mix of careful client counseling and practical problem-solving. She has handled negotiations, prepared pleadings and taken part in hearings when matters required court attention. Colleagues describe her as methodical and pragmatic in how she prepares matters for the next steps, preferring clear options over sweeping promises.
Terpstra practices at Gielow Groom Terpstra & McEvoy, where she is part of a team serving a regional client base. The firm carries the names of several attorneys, and she is one of the lawyers working out of its offices. Her role there involves advising clients, guiding transactional work and addressing disputes that reach the courtroom when settlement is not possible.
Outside the office she has balanced professional duties with commitments to the local legal community. She attends continuing legal education and contributes to firm efforts to refine internal practice systems. That practical orientation reflects a lawyer who emphasizes preparation and steady representation rather than headline matters.
Over time she has maintained a practice rooted in the everyday legal needs of individuals and businesses. In 2026 she continues to practice at Gielow Groom Terpstra & McEvoy and focuses her work on representing individuals and businesses in both transactional and dispute-related matters.
