Berger, Chelsea L.

Renee Berard has lived in Loudoun County, Virginia for over 20 years and is a proud alumna of Loudoun Valley High School.  Renee went on to graduate magna cum laude from Virginia Tech in 2006 with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science.  After college, Renee graduated cum laude from Tulane University Law School in 2009.

While attending law school, Renee was awarded an internship with the United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina in Charlotte, North Carolina.  She had the honor and pleasure of working for Chief Judge Graham C. Mullen.  During this experience, Renee was able to participate in trials, sentencing and naturalization ceremonies.  She also gained experience researching and drafting orders that were before the court. 

Following her federal judicial internship, Renee had the opportunity to study in The Netherlands.  Her coursework included classes in advocacy in the fields of International Human Rights, International Criminal Tribunals, International Law and the Death Penalty, International Women's Rights and Terrorism. 

Subsequent to her international curriculum, Renee worked as a summer associate for Heller Ehrman, a global law firm in New York City.  Her experience and training focused on civil rights litigation, employment discrimination, patents, international arbitration agreements, and corporate litigation management.

During Renee's last year at Tulane she was accepted into the Tulane University Criminal Law Clinic.  Renee was sworn in as a student attorney before the Supreme Court of Louisiana.  She worked on several cases, including appellate work, and argued in front of the Honorable Arthur K. Hunter, Jr., Chief Judge of Orleans Parish. 

Some of Renee's additional achievements and involvement at Tulane include an academic tuition scholarship, an award for the highest grade in Constitutional Criminal Procedure, service as a Senior and Junior Justice for Moot Court Board, Judicial Chairman for Moot Court Board and Chief Justice of Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity.

Renee Berard joined Alex Levay, PLLC in September 2009.  During her second year of practice, Renee was lead trial counsel in a three-day jury trial where her juvenile client was charged with felony aggravated malicious wounding and felony gang participation.  Renee's practice focuses primarily on criminal and traffic defense, civil litigation and domestic relations.  Renee also serves as Guardian ad litem for children.