Lael Pierce

When you’ve been hurt in an accident, what you need most is someone who will truly listen—and then fight for you with everything they’ve got. That’s exactly who Lael Pierce is. Driven by a lifelong passion for standing up for others, Lael brings a rare balance of compassion and courtroom toughness to her work. Her clients know her as someone who deeply cares, who makes time to understand their story. Her opponents know her as a formidable trial attorney who doesn’t back down.

“My faith drives what I do and who I am.”

Her belief system has guided her since childhood. In middle school, she found herself stepping up to defend a classmate who had been wrongly accused. She saw not just an accused criminal, but a person—a young man with a story no one was taking the time to hear. That moment didn’t just spark a calling; it lit a fire that still fuels her work today.

“I am not afraid of a fight. People mistake my kindness for weakness, but once we are in the courtroom, they quickly realize their error.” 

After college, Lael began her legal career as a public defender, fighting for those with no one else in their corner. Later, she returned to Hampton Roads as a prosecutor in Chesapeake, choosing to serve victims of crime directly. That path eventually brought her to Rutter Mills—where she found a team that shares her values and a mission she believes in wholeheartedly.

“I came to Rutter Mills because I believe in what we are doing here and I respect how we do. I can be successful and practice the law with honor and integrity here.”

Lael’s extensive trial experience makes her a powerful ally for injury victims. She thrives in high-stakes situations, preparing every case as if it’s headed for trial—because justice isn’t something you leave to chance. But beyond her skill in the courtroom, what sets Lael apart is her empathy. She connects with her clients not just as cases, but as people. People who’ve been hurt. People who need someone to truly fight for them.

When she’s not advocating for clients, Lael finds joy in faith, family, and fitness. A former athlete and track star, she still laces up her running shoes regularly, stays active, and makes time to keep learning—because growth matters, in and out of the courtroom.

For clients at Rutter Mills, Lael Pierce is more than just a lawyer—she’s the steady, determined voice you want by your side when the road ahead feels uncertain.