LELAND S. SMITH (Leland) was born in Jackson, Mississippi on February 22, 1957. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree cum laude from Millsaps College in 1980 and his Juris Doctorate from the University of Mississippi in 1982. He was a member of Omicron Delta Kappa leadership honorary and Phi Delta Phi legal fraternity. He is currently a member of the Hinds County, the Mississippi and the American Bar Associations and is also a member of the Mississippi Defense Lawyers Association. Mr. Smith has a general defense practice including litigation in both state and federal courts and before the Missisippi Workers' Compensation Commission.