
Terry Bays Smith
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Practice Areas
- Family Law
- Child Custody
- Child Support
- Dissolution of Marriage
- Legal Separation
- Paternity
- Probate Law
Biography
Terry Bays Smith is a 1989 graduate of the University Of Arizona, College of Law. She then went on to practice as a prosecutor for eight years before opening up her own practice. In 1999, Ms. Smith formed a private practice focusing her practice in the area of family law, including divorce, paternity, child support, enforcement issues, legal decision-making authority, relocation, grandparent rights and post decree modification matters.
Ms. Smith served as the managing family law attorney at Smith Law Office, P.C. for twenty years where she was solely responsible for overseeing family law cases from the initial client consultation to the point of ultimate settlement or court litigation. In her time as managing attorney Ms. Smith trained and mentored several associate attorneys.
In August of 2021 Ms. Smith welcomed attorney Catherine Medina as managing partner. Ms. Smith maintained the role of managing attorney overseeing case management and Smith Law Office P.C. thereafter merged and became Medina, Mitchell & Smith Law. In January of 2022, after more than 30 years of dedicated legal practice, Ms. Smith retired. Ms. Smith's legacy and dedication to family law matters continues on through Medina, Mitchell & Smith Law where much of Ms. Smith's legal expertise and knowledge remains active through those who Ms. Smith has entrusted with her practice. Although no longer a practicing attorney with the firm, Medina, Mitchell & Smith Law continue to wish Ms. Smith well in her feature endeavors. Ms. Smith remains a close and respected colleague of the firm.
Education
- University of Arizona College of Law, Tucson, Arizona
- J.D. - 1989
- Honors: Dean's List
- University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona
- B.A. - 1976
- Major: Psychology / Biology
Bar Admissions
- Arizona, 1989
- U.S. District Court District of Arizona, 1989
- U.S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit, 1989
Classes & Seminars
- Youth Out of The Educational Mainstream, U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Department of Education
- Forum on Juvenile Crime, U.S. Senate Sub Committee on Juvenile Crime
- Delinquency: From Intake to Disposition, State Bar of Arizona
- Violence & Youth, Arizona State University West
- Community Collaboration, National League of Cities
Pro-Bono Activities
- Phoenix Children's Chorus, President, 2009 to Present
- Arizona Legacy Board, 2013 to Present
Past Positions
- State Of Arizona Governor's Office, Director of Office for Children, 1998 to 1999
- City of Peoria, Assistant City Attorney, 1991 to 1998
Published Works
- Truancy Prevention Partnership Program, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Bulletin, U.S. Department of Justice, 1997
Fraternities or Sororities
- Chi Omega
Professional Associations
- State Bar of Arizona, Member, 1989 to Present
- Phoenix Children's Chorus, President, 2009 to Present
- Family Law Section, Member, 2000 to Present
- Arizona Legacy Board, 2013 to Present