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.