Kayla Chandler is a native of Temple, Texas. Born at Scott & White Hospital and a 2007 graduate of Temple High School, Kayla is proud to still call Temple home after more than thirty years. Kayla was raised in Temple by her mother and in Cedar Springs on her father’s farm, where she spent most of her weekends and summer vacations. When she’s not in the courtroom, Kayla can usually be found on the Cedar Springs Farm, which she owns and operates with her husband, Matthew.
Kayla graduated magna cum laude from Texas State University in 2012, with double majors in Criminal Justice and Spanish. Kayla then attended Baylor University School of Law, where she thrived in Baylor Law’s rigorous Practice Court program. During her time at Baylor Law, Kayla volunteered with the Veterans Clinic, the Immigration D.A.C.A. Clinic, Adoption Day, and organized several fundraisers and community service events for the underserved Waco community. Kayla served two terms as the President of Phi Alpha Delta, through which she organized two years of Professor Auctions to benefit C.A.S.A. of McLennan County, raising over $10,000. Her passion for service led to Kayla being recognized as one of Baylor Law School's Pro Bono and Public Interest Scholars three years in a row.
Kayla’s passion for the law began when her father became an attorney in 1995. From a very young age, Clyde Chandler took both of his daughters to court with him so his girls could observe and participate in the legal system under his guidance. Having grown up in the courthouses of Falls and Milam County, Kayla knew she wanted to be an attorney when she was just twelve years old. Kayla assisted her father in dozens of criminal jury trials over the years, where Clyde’s favorite joke to share with a jury was always: “This is my daughter Kayla - while she is my best help, she’s also my most expensive help.” In a bittersweet twist of fate, Clyde Chandler went to his heavenly home the day before Kayla received her passing bar exam results, meaning Chandler & Chandler, Attorneys at Law, will always be a dream they shared, if not a reality.
Kayla was sworn in to the State Bar of Texas by the Honorable Judge Robert Stem, beneath her father’s favorite oak tree at the Falls County courthouse. The very next week, Kayla founded KMC Legal Services. For three and a half years, Kayla devoted her career to the Central Texas community, practicing family law, CPS defense, and criminal defense, as well as providing mediation services to many attorneys across Texas. Kayla worked closely with Michael F. White for eighteen months, learning the ins and outs of family law and criminal defense. In October 2022, Kayla happily joined the Law Office of Brett H. Pritchard, where she practices family law and CPS defense under the guidance of N.J. Gaunt and Brett Pritchard.
When she’s not practicing law, Kayla enjoys spending time with her husband and their dogs, baking and cooking for family and friends, and relaxing on the family farm in Falls County. Kayla devotes her non-work hours to volunteering in her community, traveling, reading, painting, and listening to Taylor Swift. Kayla and Matthew have a passion for adopting senior dogs and for restoring their 1969 Volkswagen Beetle. In times of high stress and trial preparation, you can usually find Kayla watching The Lord of the Rings (extended editions, of course) or listening to any musical involving Lin-Manuel Miranda, such as In the Heights and Hamilton.
