Rhonda Kinard, a native of Alabama, boasts a distinguished legal career spanning multiple years in the courts of Alabama and Virginia. Her educational journey began in 1999 at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology. Dr. Kinard's commitment to legal excellence led her to pursue a Juris Doctor degree from Regent University School of Law, where she graduated with honors, ranking among the top of her class. Her academic pursuit extended to Regent University School of Business, culminating in a Master of Business Administration degree, earned with honors (cum laude). She furthered her educational achievements at Northcentral University, where she was awarded a Ph.D. in Business with a specialization in Criminal Justice.
During her tenure at Regent Law, Dr. Kinard gained valuable experience through internships at esteemed institutions, including the United States District Court, Eastern District of Virginia, where she worked with the Honorable Raymond A. Jackson. Additionally, she completed an externship at the Supreme Court of Alabama, where she contributed to the Honorable Tom Parker's judicial team.
After completing law school, Dr. Kinard embarked on a prominent legal career, commencing with a prestigious appointment to one of the seven legal clerkships at the Supreme Court of Virginia. Her service included positions as a judicial law clerk to the late Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Virginia, the Honorable Leroy Rountree Hassell, Sr., as well as to the Honorable Charles Russell, Senior Justice of the Supreme Court of Virginia.
From 2011 to 2014, Dr. Kinard took on the role of a prosecutor at the Newport News Commonwealth Attorney's Office, where she accumulated extensive litigation experience in both bench and jury trials. Her caseload encompassed a wide range of criminal cases, including misdemeanors, firearm offenses, drug offenses, white-collar and property offenses, burglary, arson, and violent felonies such as armed robbery, aggravated assaults, sexual offenses, and homicide. Dr. Kinard's time as a prosecutor provided her with a profound understanding of the far-reaching impact of crime on victims, defendants, and their families.
Dr. Kinard has also contributed to legal education, serving as an Adjunct Professor at Regent University School of Law, where she imparted her knowledge in criminal law and criminal procedure. Additionally, she taught Business Law courses at ITT Technical Institute and, previously, served as an Adjunct Professor at ECPI University, teaching criminal justice and business courses.
Rhonda Kinard is a licensed attorney in Alabama, Virginia, and California, with the added privilege of practicing in all U.S. District Courts in the State of Alabama, encompassing the Southern District, Middle District, and Northern District of Alabama. Her extensive legal expertise and dedication to education and justice make her a highly respected figure in the legal profession.
