M. Dianne Smothers Graduated from Union University. She later graduated with a Juris Doctor from the Mississippi College School of Law. She was licensed to practice law in Tennessee in 1986. She was admitted to the bar of the United States District Court for Middle District of Tennessee in 1986. She was admitted to the bar of the United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee in 1988.

Dianne was a Staff attorney for West Tennessee Legal Services from 1987 through 1994. The Practice placed an emphasis on domestic relations, disability and housing. She was later a Managing Attorney over the housing unit. She then went into private practice in Jackson from 1994 through 2000. She placed an emphasis on bankruptcy, domestic relations and criminal defense.

Dianne has been an Assistant Federal Defender since 2000. She does trial and appellate representation of indigent defendants in United States District Court. She is also a member of Tennessee Bar Association, the National Association of Federal Defenders and the Madison County Bar Association.