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Diala Chaney

Adjunct Professor and Senior Attorney for the Department of Human Services

Diala H. Chaney is a senior attorney for the Department of Human Services, where she supervises staff attorneys in the Child Support Enforcement Division in the following counties: Tunica, Panola, Quitman, Coahoma, Sunflower, Bolivar and Washington.  Diala received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Mississippi in 2001 and her juris doctorate from the University of Mississippi School of Law in 2004.  While in law school, Diala was the recipient of the Law Alumni Jerry H. Center Scholarship.  She served as a teaching assistant in Contracts II, Criminal Law and Civil Procedure.  She also served as Editor of the law school yearbook (2004).  In 2007, she received her LL.M. in Taxation from the University of Alabama School of Law.

Diala has been active in the legal profession since her graduation from law school.  Diala served as Vice-President (2005-2006) and President (2006-2007) of the Mississippi Women Lawyers Association.  She served as Secretary (2007-2008), Treasurer (2008-2009), Vice-President (2009-2010) and President (2010-2011) of the Lafayette County Bar Association.  Diala served as Secretary (2008-2009), Treasurer (2009-2011), Vice-President (2011-2012) and President (2012-2013) of the Tri-County Young Lawyers Association.  Through her role as office for the Tri-County Young Lawyers, Diala was able to represent Mississippi at the American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division’s Annual Meetings (2010, 2012, 2013).  She is a member of the inaugural class of the Mississippi Bar’s Leadership Forum (2011).

Diala served on the Mississippi Bar’s Women in the Profession Committee from 2005 through 2013. While on the committee, she served as a member of the Price Prather Luncheon Sub-Committee (2009-2011) and as Chair of the Price Prather Luncheon Sub-Committee (2011-2012).  She also served on the Women’s Initiative Sub-Committee (2006-2007).  She served on the Mississippi Bar’s Local Government Records Committee (2011-2013).  Diala is the author of the article “Law Practice is Harder in Heels… Or Is It?” (Mississippi Lawyer Magazine, Winter 2013).  Diala served as the Education Chair for the Mississippi Defense Lawyers Association Young Lawyers Central Division Committee (2005-2006) and on the Lifetime Achievement Award Committee (2006-2007).  She has been a member of the Jackson Young Lawyers Pro Bono Committee, the Jackson Young Lawyers Teen Court Committee, and the Hinds County Bar Association Pro Bono Committee (2004-2007).

Diala has been an active member of The Mississippi Bar Young Lawyers Division and is currently the Chair of the Lawyer in Every Classroom Committee (2013-2014).  She has previously served on its Board of Directors (2010-2012).  She served as Co-Chair and Oxford Regional Chair of the High School Mock Trial Committee (2007-2009).  Diala has also served as Chair of the Nominations Committee (2012-2013).  She served as a member of the Mock Trial Committee (2004-2006), Pro Bono Committee (2004-2007), and the Wills for Heroes Committee (2009-2010).

Diala currently serves as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Mississippi School of Law, where she teaches Chancery Court Practice.  Diala is a graduate of Leadership Lafayette (2009) and is the Hospitality Director for the Oxford Film Festival (2007-present).  She is an active member of the Junior Auxiliary of Oxford and the Oxford Community Tennis Association.  She is a member of College Hill Presbyterian Church.  Diala lives in Oxford with her husband, Phillip, and their two boys, Elliott and Michael.

Education

B.A., University of Mississippi
J.D., University of Mississippi School of Law
LL.M., University of Alabama School of Law