Shelby Smith
Shelby is originally from Hinton, Iowa and has practiced law since 2021. Shelby and her family relocated to Ankeny, Iowa in 2024. She practices primarily in Estate Planning (wills, power of attorney, living wills, trusts), Probate (decedent's Estates), Trust Administration, Real Estate (residential and development), and Corporate Law (small business representation, including corporations and limited liability companies).
BIOGRAPHY
Shelby Smith received her undergraduate degree in Family and Consumer Sciences at South Dakota State University, Brookings, South Dakota. Shelby received her Master of Education from Texas Christian University in 2016. In 2021, Shelby received her Juris Doctor from University of South Dakota Knudson School of Law, where she was Managing Editor for the South Dakota Law Review.
Work Experience
- Associate Attorney, Mark Gray Law, PLC, November 2024 - present
- Associate Attorney, Laird Law Firm, PLC, March 2022 – October 2024
- Tax Attorney, Henjes, Conner & Williams, PC, August 2021 – March 2022
- Graduate Assistant & Student Attorney, USD Federal Tax Clinic, August 2019 – May 2021
- Law Clerk, Moore, Corbett, Heffernan, Moeller, and Meis, LLP, May 2020 – August 2020
Professional Activities and Affiliations
- Iowa State Bar Association
- Section Member: Young Lawyers Division, Real Estate & Title Law, Business Law, Agricultural Law, Corporate Counsel, Elder Law, Litigation, Taxation, Probate, Trust & Estate Planning, 2022 - present
- Minnesota State Bar Association
- American Bar Association
- United States Tax Court Bar Admission, 2022
- Polk County Bar Association
- Polk County Women Attorneys
- Clear Lake Farmers Market, Board Member, 2024 - Present
- South Dakota Law Review (Managing Editor 2020 – 2021; Staff Writer 2019 - 2020)
- University of South Dakota, Knudson School of Law
- USD Ag Law Society (President, 2020 – 2021; Treasurer, 2019 – 2020; 1L Class Rep., 2018 – 2019)
- VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) (Site Coordinator, 2019 – 2021; Volunteer, 2018 – 2019)
- Business Law Society (3L Class Rep., 2020 – 2021)
- Class President (USD Knudson School of Law, Class of 2021)
- Delta Theta Phi Law Fraternity (Member)
- USD Women In Law (Member)
- Texas Christian University
- NCAA Division I Equestrian Team (Student Coach, 2014 – 2016)
- Housing and Residential Life (Graduate Assistant, 2015 – 2016)
- Kappa Delta Phi Honor Society (Member)
- South Dakota State University
- NCAA Division I Equestrian Team (Team Captain; Letter Winner; Student-Athlete)
- Phi Upsilon Omicron Honor Society (President; Community Service Officer; Member)
- Chi Omega Sorority (Member)
Civic & Volunteer Activities
- Ankeny Chamber of Commerce
- Ankeny Young Professionals
- Clear Lake Jaycees (Secretary, Membership Director, Member; 2021 – 2024)
- Lake Leadership; Clear Lake, Iowa; Class of 2024
- First Mates; Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce (2024)
- Cerro Gordo County Bar Association (Secretary and Member, 2023 – 2024)
- Volunteer Judge, Iowa Mock Trial
- Garner Women’s Golf Association (Member, 2024)