Professor Jennifer Smith
Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University College of Law
For twenty years, Professor Smith has shaped the next generation of lawyers at FAMU College of Law.
A Career Dedicated to Equity, Education & Empowerment
Professor Jennifer Smith has spent twenty years teaching at Florida A&M University College of Law, where she transitioned into academia with the aim of shaping the next generation of lawyers.
Professor Jennifer Smith has devoted more than two decades to legal education at Florida A&M University College of Law, where she entered academia with a clear commitment to mentoring and developing future members of the legal profession. Her teaching spans Civil Procedure, Electronic Discovery, and other advanced areas of practice, reflecting both doctrinal depth and practical insight.
She has produced influential scholarship at the intersection of civil procedure, technology, and access to justice, with her work informing both academic discourse and judicial decision-making. In addition to her scholarly contributions, Professor Smith has played a significant role in institutional leadership and advocacy, consistently advancing initiatives that promote fairness, broaden educational opportunity, and address systemic inequities within the legal profession.
From Big Law Partner to the Classroom
Partner & Department Chair
Ascended to partner and became the youngest department chair at the firm, chairing the South Florida Health Law Group. Worked in both Washington, D.C. and Miami, recognized as an extraordinary associate.
Federal Judicial Law Clerk
Served as a federal judicial law clerk to the Honorable Joseph W. Hatchett on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.
Legal Resources Centre, South Africa
Took a three-month leave during her associate years to volunteer at the Legal Resources Centre in Johannesburg, helping impoverished South Africans access justice.
Washington Bar Association
Founding chair of the Washington Bar Association Young Lawyers Division, creating mentorship opportunities for emerging legal professionals.
Advancing Gender Pay Equity
Through strategic litigation, Professor Smith advanced fair pay, leadership equity, and career progression for women in legal academia.
Throughout her career, Professor Smith has remained dedicated to the principles of equity, education, and empowerment.
— Orlando Style Magazine, April 2024