About Prof. Smith

Jennifer M. Smith, a full professor, joined the faculty of the Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University College of Law after extensive complex litigation experience in the corporate sector in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Florida. Professor Smith teaches first year Civil Procedure, as well as upper-level courses: Electronic Discovery, Conflict of Laws, Florida Practice, Federal Courts, Remedies, Trial Practice, Health Law, Marijuana Law & Policy, Intersectionality, Fashion Law, Interviewing/Counseling/Negotiation, and Comparative Analysis of Global Marijuana Laws (taught abroad). She also founded two law clinics at the law school: Real Estate, Housing. Professor Smith is a prolific scholar, whose scholarship has appeared in several law journals and books, and has been cited by federal and state judges, as well as other scholars. Recently, Professor Smith submitted petitions for writ of certiorari to the Supreme Court of the United States. Prior to academia, Professor Smith was a partner with Holland & Knight LLP, one of the largest U.S. law firms, and chair of its South Florida Health Law Group. She practiced in both the Washington, D.C. and Miami offices. During that time, the Young Lawyers Division of the Washington Bar Association recognized her as “The Young Lawyer of the Year.” Prior to becoming a partner, she was recognized as an “extraordinary associate” by the law firm. While an associate, she took a leave from the law firm to volunteer as a human rights attorney with the Legal Resources Centre in Johannesburg, South Africa. Before joining the firm, Professor Smith served as a federal judicial law clerk to Judge Joseph W. Hatchett on the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. Professor Smith earned her B.S. from Hampton University and her law degree from the University of Miami School of Law. She is admitted to practice in Florida, Maryland, Washington, D.C., several federal district and circuit courts, and the Supreme Court of the United States.

As an academic activist, she has been responsible for obtaining fairer pay, leadership equity, and promotions for women law faculty and others at the FAMU College of Law through strategic litigation, specifically resulting in up to $23,000 individual salary increases for women faculty.

J. Smith, law student