Attorney Profiles

Laura Kelsey Rhodes 
Rockville, Maryland
Partner
phone (301) 424-0094
fax (301) 424-8732
email Email Me

Ms. Rhodes had ten years of litigation experience before she co-founded ALBRIGHT & RHODES , LLC . Besides her respected criminal defense work, she is responsible for the firm's distinguished immigration practice and civil litigation. She has conducted close to one hundred bench and jury trials in Maryland and Washington, D.C., and appears in both State and Federal courts. The attorneys of ALBRIGHT & RHODES , LLC , have successfully represented clients with charges ranging from drunk driving and vehicular assault to sexual offenses, homicide and white collar fraud.

In State v. Alvarez Ms. Rhodes represented a client charged with multiple homicides in a Death Penalty post-conviction case. In 1999 she successfully fought outrageous charges brought against a woman for simultaneously "driving too slowly" and "fleeing" from the police. The jury returned a verdict of not guilty in this nationally publicized case.

Ms. Rhodes represents businesses and individuals in filings, applications, and litigation with the Immigration and Naturalization Service. She has developed unusual approaches to successfully challenge convictions in State courts, thus enabling clients to avoid the immigration consequences of prior offenses. Business clients rely upon her for their employee I-9 compliance issues and potential liability problems, and she has represented employers and employees with H-1B and similar visas in both routine and complicated situations.

Ms. Rhodes gained a great deal of her litigation experience before starting ALBRIGHT & RHODES , LLC , when she served in various capacities for the Maryland Office of the Public Defender. As Director of Attorney Training, she was responsible for the continuing legal education for three hundred criminal defense lawyers. While Chief of the Drug Defense Division in Prince George's County, she led the trial teams on felony drug cases including cocaine and marijuana importation charges, DEA wiretap cases, and multiple-kilogram cocaine distribution cases.

Governor William Donald Schaefer appointed Ms. Rhodes to the Maryland Governor's Commission on Hispanic Affairs I, in 1991, and Governor Parris Glendening renewed that appointment in 1996. She also served on the Maryland Judicial Conference's Task Force on Interpreters in 1994-95, following an appointment by Chief Judge Robert C. Murphy.

Bar Admissions:
Maryland, 1987
District of Columbia, 1990
U.S. District Court District of Maryland, 1996
U.S. District Court of the District of Columbia, 1997
U.S. Court of Appeals 4th Circuit, 1996
Education:
The University of Michigan Law School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 1985
J.D.
Law Review: Michigan Yearbook of International Legal Studies, 1983 - 1985


College of William & Mary, Williamsburg, Virginia, 1981
A.B.
Major:  Government


Representative Cases:
State v. Woodson, 338 Md. 332, 658 A.2d 272 (  1995)
State v. Hammonds, (Court of Special Appeals 1993)
Classes/Seminars Taught:
"Hot Topics in Immigration Law", Maryland Criminal Defense Attorneys' Association, 1999


"Drug Cases, Drug Trials", Office of othe Public Defender, 1997


"How to Testify So the Jury Hears You", Maryland State Police Training Academy, 1995


"Winning in Opening Statement", Office of the Public Defender


"Client Interviews, Investigation Techniques", Office of the Public Defender, 1995


"Introduction to Jury Trials", Office of the Public Defender, 1995


"Handling Misdemeanor Jury Trials", Presented for Piper & Marbury Pro Bono Program, 1994


'Creating an Attorney Training Program", National Legal Aid and Defender Association, New Orleans, 1994


"Tricks of the Trade in Drug Cases", National Legal Aid and Defender Association, Baltimore, 1994 - 1919


"Closing Arguments the Jury Wants to Hear", Office of the Public Defender, 1993


Honors and Awards:
Appointed by Governor Schaefer to Maryland Governor's Commission on Hispanic Affairs, 1991


Appointed by Governor Glendening to Maryland Governor's Commission on Hispanic Affairs, 1996


Appointed by Chief Judge Murphy to Maryland Judicial Conference's Task Force on Interpreters, 1994


Testified before Maryland Legislature re: "English Only" bill, 1998


Testified before Maryland Judicial Conference re: Court Interpreter Problems, 1997


Professional Associations and Memberships:
Maryland Criminal Defense Attorneys' Association, 2000 - 2001
President - Elect


Maryland Hispanic Bar Association
Board of Directors 1996-1997; Judicial Nominating Committee, 1996-2000


Montgomery County Women's Bar Association, 1996 - 2000


Montgomery County Bar Association;
Member, Bench-Bar Committee, 2000


Maryland State Bar Association
Member


Business Network International, 1997 - 2000


Past Employment Positions:
Maryland Public Defender Office, Director of Attorney Training, 1995 - 1996


Maryland Public Defender Office (Prince George's County), Chief, Drug Defense Division, 1991 - 1994


Maryland Public Defender Office (Montgomery County), Staff Attorney, 1989 - 1991


Public Citizen's Congress Watch, Staff Attorney, 1987 - 1989


Koonz, McKenney and Johnson, Law Clerk (products liability and medical malpractice), 1986 - 1987


D.C. Court of Appeals, Hon. John M. Steadman, Judicial Law clerk, 1985 - 1986


Pro Bono Activities:
Provide Legal Advice to Spanish Catholic Center of Washington, DC
Assist Office of Public Defender with Special Cases
Governor's Commission on Hispanic Affairs, 1991 - 1996
Languages:
Spanish
Portuguese
English
Fraternities/Sororities:
Kappa Alpha Theta

Albright & Rhodes, LLC | 200-A Monroe Street, Suite 305 | Rockville, MD 20850-2406

Phone: 301-424-0094 | Fax: 301-424-8732 | E-mail: Contact Us