Ms. Smith holds a BA in Cultural Anthropology from Bridgewater State University, an MAT in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages from Bridgewater State University, and a JD from the University of South Dakota Knudson School of Law (summa cum laude, Sterling Honors).

During law school she was a staff writer and copy editor for Law Review and was the NALSA Secretary. She participated in National NALSA Moot Court, advancing with her partner to the Sweet Sixteen round in 2021 and Elite Eight round in 2022. In 2022, she also won 3rd place best spoken advocate. Ms. Smith completed several internships related to education law and water law on reservations, took part in the tribal wills drafting clinic, and helped revise a tribal code during an externship.

Following graduation, Ms. Smith clerked for the Honorable Steven R. Jensen, Chief Justice of the South Dakota Supreme Court and then stayed on as staff attorney with the Court. She then gained experience in drafting for litigation, alternative dispute resolution, and policy revision and enforcement while representing tribes and tribal entities in such areas as education law, employment law, housing law, and tax law.