Rhonda Kinard

Area of Practice: Criminal & Family Law Rhonda Kinard, an Alabama native, has practiced law for several years in Alabama and Virginia courts. In 1999, she attended the University of Alabama at Birmingham, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology. After college, Dr. Kinard earned a Juris Doctor from Regent University School of Law, graduating amid the top of her class. She graduated from Regent University School of Business, earning a Masters in Business Administration, cum laude. Finally, she graduated from Northcentral University, earning a Ph.D in Business with a specialization in Criminal Justice. While at Regent Law, Dr. Kinard interned at the United States District Court, Eastern District of Virginia, for the Honorable Raymond A. Jackson. Additionally, Dr. Kinard completed an externship at the Supreme Court of Alabama for the Honorable Tom Parker. After law school, Dr. Kinard began her legal career by accepting an offer to serve in one of the seven legal clerkships at the Supreme Court of Virginia. From 2009 - 2011, she served as a judicial law clerk to the late Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Virginia, the Honorable Leroy Rountree Hassell, Sr. She also served as law clerk to the Honorable Charles Russell, Senior Justice of the Supreme Court of Virginia. From 2011 - 2014, Dr. Kinard served as a prosecutor for the Newport News Commonwealth Attorney's Office, where she gained extensive litigation experience in both bench and jury trials. She has litigated thousands of criminal cases, including criminal and traffic misdemeanors, firearm offenses, drug offenses, white collar/property offenses, burglary, arson and violent felonies such as armed robbery, aggravated assaults, sexual offenses and homicide. Dr. Kinard's years as a prosecutor has shown her the devastating impact crime has on not only the victims but also on the defendant, as well as family members. Dr. Kinard served as an Adjunct Professor at Regent University School of Law, where she taught criminal law and criminal procedure classes. Dr. Kinard also taught Business Law courses at ITT Technical Institute. Previously, Dr. Kinard served as an Adjunct Professor at ECPI University, where she taught criminal justice and business classes. Dr. Kinard is licensed to practice law in Alabama, Virginia, and California. She is also licensed to practice in all U.S. District Courts in the State of Alabama, which include the Southern District, Middle District, and Northern District of Alabama. Lawyers of Distinction Members have been selected based upon a review and vetting process by our Selection Committee utilizing U.S. Provisional Patent # 62/743,254. The platform generates a numerical score of 1 to 5 for each of the 12 enumerated factors which are meant to recognize the applicant’s achievements and peer recognition. All applicants must be licensed to practice law. Members are then subject to a final review for ethical violations within the past ten years before confirmation of Membership. A Lawyers of Distinction Nomination does not guarantee membership and attorneys may not pay a fee to be nominated. Attorneys may nominate to Lawyers of Distinction their peers whom they feel warrant consideration. The determination of whether an attorney qualifies for Membership is based upon the aforementioned proprietary analysis discussed above. Membership is not meant to infer any endorsement of Lawyers of Distinction by any of the 50 United States Bar Associations or The District of Columbia Bar Association. Any references to “excellent,” “excellence,” or “distinguished” are meant to refer to the Lawyers of Distinction organization only and not to any named member individually.