Chante Brantley

Chante Brantley's work in the VanSickle Family Law Clinic encompasses teaching and supervising students who will represent low-income residents in matters such as divorce, paternity actions, custody and visitation, and child and spousal support.

Prior to joining the faculty at SMU Dedman School of Law, Professor Brantley was managing attorney and mediator at Barnes Prox Law, PLLC, which focused exclusively on family law matters. Professor Brantley began her career as a Child Protective Services caseworker, transitioning to law working as a legislative aide to Texas State Senator Royce West. Professor Brantley's experiences as a caseworker helped shaped the health and human services legislation she spearheaded for Senator West which enhanced the lives of many families across Texas. Most notably, she recommended the "Grandparents' Bill," which provides financial assistance to grandparents raising their grandchildren with the goal of preserving family ties. Tenets of this bill have expanded to federal kinship care legislation.

Professor Brantley received a B.S. from Texas Woman's University, M.S. in Social Work from The University of Texas at Arlington with a concentration in child welfare law, and her J.D. from The University of Texas School of Law.