Kayla Cleveland

Kayla Cleveland is an attorney whose practice includes criminal and juvenile matters. She
brings a creative and strategic approach to trial advocacy, combining disciplined preparation with the ability to adapt quickly in the courtroom.

Kayla earned her Bachelor of Science in Political Science, with a minor in Public
Administration, from the University of North Alabama in 2018. As an undergraduate, she was
a member of the Political Science Honor Society, competed on the Mock Trial Team, and
served as President of the College of Arts and Sciences Ambassadors Program, reflecting her
early commitment to leadership, advocacy, and public service.

She earned her Juris Doctor from Cumberland School of Law at Samford University in
2021, a law school that consistently places among the top five trial advocacy programs in the
nation. While at Cumberland, Kayla was a Merit Scholar and a Clinic Fellow in the Criminal
Defense Clinic, where she worked on appeals and post-conviction litigation. During law
school, she gained wide-ranging experience through clerkships with the Federal Public
Defender for the Northern District of Alabama, the Tuscaloosa County District Attorney’s
Office, and the Louisiana Center for Children’s Rights, developing a well-rounded
perspective on criminal litigation from both defense and prosecutorial viewpoints.

After law school, Kayla joined the Missouri State Public Defender’s Office, where she
managed a demanding litigation docket and conducted numerous trials, with an emphasis on
juvenile cases. She later practiced with the New Mexico Law Offices of the Public Defender,
continuing to sharpen her skills through motion practice, evidentiary hearings, and courtroom
advocacy.

In addition to her litigation practice, Kayla serves as an Attorney Advisor for the Eddy County
Treatment Court and previously served for two years as Vice Chair of the American Bar
Association’s Section of Civil Rights and Social Justice, Criminal Justice Section, where she
helped draft and advance criminal justice policy adopted by the ABA.

Kayla is known for thoughtful advocacy, strong courtroom presence, and a creative problem-
solving approach that allows her to present clear, persuasive arguments in complex cases.
Outside of her practice, she enjoys traveling, exploring new places with friends and family, and
attending live music concerts and stand-up comedy shows.