Today we’d like to introduce you to Kyara Herard.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My journey is deeply rooted in my South Florida upbringing and an early commitment to service that became engrained in me by my parents and family. As a proud graduate of Miami Senior High School’s Legal Magnet Program, I discovered my passion for justice while learning the importance of giving back to the community that helped shape me. As a teenager, I devoted countless hours to serving the homeless, the elderly, and individuals in need, which were experiences that laid the foundation for a career centered on advocacy. I went on to earn my Bachelor in Science from Florida State University and my Juris Doctor from Barry University School of Law, carrying with me the values instilled at home. After gaining experience as an Assistant Public Defender and as In-House Counsel for Homeowners Choice Property and Casualty Insurance Company, Inc., I returned to South Florida with a renewed mission to uplift and empower others. Now a litigation attorney with more than nine years of experience, I am dedicated to public service and tireless advocacy on behalf of youth, women, and seniors. My life has demonstrated that I am grounded in purpose and driven by compassion, as I strive each day to strengthen the legal profession and the communities I proudly call home.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
While the journey has come with obstacles, each experience has shaped me into a stronger and more determined advocate. I have learned to embrace challenges as part of growth, trusting the process, and staying focused on the mission ahead.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
As a litigation attorney, my legal training and professional background has shaped me and continues to allow me to be a dedicated public servant and a well-rounded advocate. My time as an Assistant Public Defender provided invaluable courtroom experience, where I handled all stages of criminal litigation, courtroom advocacy in misdemeanor, felony, and specialty divisions such as Domestic Violence and Mental Health Court, and strengthened my ability to operate effectively in high-pressure environments while protecting clients’ rights. My foundation in criminal litigation ultimately paved the way for a successful transition into civil litigation, further expanding my skill set and reinforcing my commitment to approaching each matter with diligence, precision, and a deep sense of community responsibility. Among my proudest professional moments are being recognized by the Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division as a “36 Under 36” honoree and by South Florida Magazine as one of its “40 Under 40.”
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
Success, to me, is fulfilling my purpose and living in happiness—not a constant state of perfection, but a steady sense of alignment. It is knowing that I am using my gifts in a way that matters and touching the lives of everyone that I may come into contact with.
Contact Info:
Image Credits
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated
Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division
