About Kourtney N
Kourtney N Bernard-Rance built a path to law that began in social services and led to the courtroom. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Family and Child Studies, with a concentration in Family Services and Child Advocacy, from Montclair State University in 2013. She then turned to legal training at the Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University, where she received her J.D. in 2017.
Those academic choices left a mark on how she approaches cases. Her undergraduate studies centered on the practical needs of children and families. Law school expanded that view to include statutory and procedural tools. The combination gives her an unusual line of sight into cases that touch on family dynamics and child welfare, and it shapes the kinds of matters she accepts and how she prepares for them.
After law school, Bernard-Rance sought admission to the Georgia bar and became a member of the State Bar of Georgia in 2018. Her local professional ties grew from there. She joined the Georgia Association for Women Lawyers the same year and added membership in the Cobb County Bar Association in 2020. Those affiliations provide regular contact with peers across practice areas and keep her engaged in continuing education and county-level practice matters.
Bernard-Rance is on the roster at The Manely Firm, P.C. There she handles client work that draws on both her legal training and her background in family and child services. Colleagues describe her as direct in client meetings and thorough in preparation. She takes time to explain options and to map out next steps in plain language, a habit that clients regularly note when describing the experience of working with her.
Her courtroom and negotiation work reflect the same attention to detail. She prepares case files with an eye to chronology and supporting documentation, and she frames legal arguments in a way that connects statutory language to real-world impacts on individuals and families. She aims to manage client expectations early and to keep lines of communication open during disputes and hearings.
Outside of casework, Bernard-Rance maintains ties to the legal community through bar association involvement and local professional programming. She remains licensed and active in Georgia bar matters. Currently she practices at The Manely Firm, P.C., handling matters that involve family and child advocacy and related legal issues.
