Class of 2012
Tulare County Deputy Counsel

Tulare County Deputy Counsel Stephanie Smittle has always focused her energies on public service. Although she spent 16 years as a 4th grade teacher, she never lost sight of to her desire to work in the district attorney’s office. When Stephanie enrolled in law school, she had two children – ages six and eight – at home. She chose to tackle the five year plan because, “I knew I couldn’t afford to miss more time with them.”

Stephanie says she was lucky. Her family pitched in and she passed the bar on her first try. In 2012 she became a prosecutor at the Tulare County DA’s office, and then switched to County Counsel, where she uses her experience in education as an advisor on the Schools Team. Among her areas of expertise are student rights, personnel issues, and custody. “Only four County Counsels in the state of California have a Schools Team,” Stephanie said. There are other reasons she loves her job as well. “Tulare County Counsel believes in a work/life balance,” she said. “(They know) you’ll be happier if you can have time for life.”

Stephanie has fond memories of her law school years. She remembered the non-stop banter between professors Richard Cartier and Larry Artenian. “One half of an argument would be presented in one class, and the rest in the other. SJCL staff clearly enjoyed working together,” she said.