Ms. Smith was raised in Miami, Florida. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in politics and public affairs from the University of Miami in 1986. While in college, she interned at the State Attorney’s Office of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit in Miami. Following a brief career in Real Estate, she returned to her main interest – the law. Ms. Smith then worked as a paralegal in the Domestic Crimes Unit at the Miami State Attorney’s Office prior to attending law school.
In 1993, Ms. Smith graduated from Nova University School of Law. In 1994, she was appointed as an Assistant State Attorney for the Sixth Judicial Circuit in Clearwater, Florida. While a prosecutor, Ms. Smith had the opportunity to try numerous misdemeanor and felony cases. After leaving the State Attorney’s Office in 1998, she went into private practice concentrating in Criminal Defense and Family Law. Since 1998, Ms. Smith has practiced exclusively in Family and Marital Law.
Ms. Smith is a member of the Continuing Legal Education Committee of the Family Law Section of The Florida Bar. Additionally, she is a former board member of The Clearwater Bar Foundation and the editor of The Clearwater Bar newsletter, the Res Ipsa. Ms. Smith is a member of the board of directors for the Clearwater Bar Association as well as a member of the Bay Area Collaborative Law Institute, The Clearwater Bar Association and the Pinellas County Trial Lawyers Association. Ms. Smith is a recipient of the Clearwater Bar Association’s President’s Award as well as the Bar Association’s Pro Bono award. In addition to the State of Florida, she is licensed to practice before the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida. Ms. Smith is married and has one son. She enjoys spending time with her family in addition to playing tennis and golf.