Raylynn Best-James is the founder and managing attorney of Best James Legal. After receiving her high school diploma, Raylynn attended the University of Maryland, College Park where she obtained her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Criminology & Criminal Justice. While at the University of Maryland, Raylynn was a member of many organizations including Phi Alpha Delta, the largest professional law fraternity, The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, the first intercollegiate historically African American sorority.
After completing her undergraduate studies, Raylynn attended the University of Baltimore School of Law where she received her Juris Doctor degree with a concentration in Criminal Practice. During law school, Raylynn served as President of the Criminal Law Association and honed her trial advocacy skills while serving as a competing member in the university’s award-winning National Trial Team. Though wanting to become an attorney since the age of eight, it was during Raylynn’s first year in law school that her passion for the law peaked. She realized that she enjoyed looking at the law from different perspectives and subsequently using those different perspectives to strategically map out the best legal avenue for clients to consider.
Post-law school graduation, Raylynn served as Judicial Law Clerk to the then-Judge in Charge of the Criminal Division, The Honorable Charles J. Peters, in the Circuit Court for Baltimore City, Maryland.
Beginning her career as a practicing attorney, Raylynn served as litigation attorney at a prominent Prince George’s County general practice firm. There, Raylynn handled and litigated numerous legal matters to include personal injury, landlord/tenant, small claims, estate planning and administration, divorce, custody, adoption, guardianship and peace and protective orders.
Prior to starting Best James Legal, Raylynn was employed as Senior Associate Attorney with a thriving Howard County, Maryland family law firm. There, Raylynn negotiated and litigated complex divorce, custody, property, child support and protective order matters throughout Maryland District and Circuit Courts.
In 2022, Raylynn was named to The National Black Lawyers: Top 40 Under 40 List. The National Black Lawyers List was created to highlight the exceptional work of successful and influential Black lawyers throughout the country.
Raylynn’s goal, and the goal of Best James Legal, is to provide the absolute best legal representation and advocacy for clients and educate clients on the law, legal strategy and possible legal outcomes of their matter, good or bad. Raylynn prides herself on not sugar coating or beating around the bush with her clients. While we cannot ever promise that a legal matter will conclude one way or another, Raylynn makes it her duty to educate her clients so that they are aware of the legal path they are on in order to make the best decisions.
Outside of work, Raylynn is a social and fun-loving person. In her free time, she enjoys going to the movies with her husband, Joseph, and brunching throughout the DMV.
