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EDUCATION

South Texas College of Law Houston, Texas May 2001
Juris Doctor, Order of the Barristers

  • Dean's Student Advocacy Service Award
  • S.A.F.E. Advocacy Scholarship
  • Regional Finalist, National Appellate Advocacy Competition
  • First Place and Best Brief, John L. Marshall National Privacy Law Moot Court Competition
  • First Place, William P. Spong National Moot Court Tournament
  • Alternate, ATLA Regional Mock Trial Competition
  • Finalist and Second Speaker, Leroy Jeffers Moot Court Competition
  • Black Law Students' Association

University of St. Thomas Houston, Texas May 1998
Bachelor of Arts, Communications with Honors

  • Dean's List
  • Lambda Phi Eta Communications Honor Society
  • Senior Senator, Students' Association
  • Vice-President, Communications Club
  • Staff Writer, The Cauldron Newspaper

CONFERENCES AND PAPERS PRESENTED

  • Update on Governmental Immunity August 2005 -A Continuing Legal Education presentation for Municipal Utility District Attorneys
  • "Will your project insurance policy really cover your project?" April 2007 - Insurance Coverage Article for National Association of Minority Contractors
  • Ethics CLE: Coverage and representation in third party insurance suits November 2007
  • Update of U.S.C. 1983 Claims: Suits against Governmental Employees May 2008

PROFESSIONAL AND COMMUNITY AFFILIATIONS

  • Houston Bar Association Committee Member
  • Houston Chapter of the Association of Women Attorneys
  • The Downtown Group
  • Houston Young Lawyers Association
  • Houston Lawyers' Association
  • The Professional Group
  • Sustaining Member of the Harris County Democratic Party
  • St. Martin's Episcopal Church
  • Dress for Success Houston/Women of Wardrobe
  • Young Texans Against Cancer
  • Rice Military Civic Club

PRIOR LEGAL EXPERIENCE

The Smoots-Hogan Law Firm Houston, Texas September 2007 - Present
Founding Attorney

Powers & Slay, P.L.L.C. Houston, Texas June 2006 - September 2007
Associate Attorney

Zimmerman, Axelrad, Meyer, Houston, Texas November 2005 - April 2006
Stern & Wise, P.C.
Associate Attorney

Brown McCarroll L.L.P. Houston, Texas September 2002 - November 2005
Associate Attorney

Sydow, Kormanik, Carrigan Houston, Texas November 2001 - September 2002
& Eckerson L.L.P.
Contract Attorney