Kayla Gardner is a social justice advocate born and raised in South Florida. As a recent graduate of Howard University School of Law, Kayla is excited to start her legal career by litigating cases to dismantle systemic injustices and advocating for marginalized communities who lack access to traditional legal tools.

Kayla’s academic career reflects her passion for social justice causes and her interest in building genuine relationships in the community. After graduating from college during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Kayla launched a digital grassroots campaign focused on civic engagement and community empowerment in South Florida in response to the unrest following the murder of George Floyd. In law school, she pursued her commitment to social justice as a student attorney in the Movement Lawyering Clinic, for which she earned a CALI Award in Fall 2022. She spent her summers working at a variety of established non-profit organizations dedicated to LGBTQ+ rights, environmental law, and civil rights, respectively. As a student leader, Kayla served as President of the Langston Chapter of the Black Law Students Association and Vice President of Epsilon Sigma Iota Sorority, Inc., a sorority dedicated to the advancement of women in the legal profession.

Kayla is new to the West Coast and looks forward to exploring all the great outdoors that California has to offer. She also enjoys watching horror movies, attending live music events, and shopping at vintage thrift stores.