YoPro, the Young Professionals Council of Legal Services of Greater Miami, featured Professor H.T. Smith in its Conversations With Leaders series.
Held virtually, the event recognized Professor Smith as a former Legal Services Staff Attorney and Board President.
The event also raised much needed funds for Legal Services’ Client Needy Fund, which provides grocery gift cards for clients who come to the office without money for food.
The conversation was moderated by FIU Law alumna TerryAnn Howell (Class of 2014), an associate with Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP in Miami, and organized by YoPro Chair Jennifer Fine, an associate with Bilzin Sumberg Baena Price & Axelrod LLP, also in Miami.
“H.T.’s legal career blazed new trails from the start,” he was introduced. “As Miami-Dade County’s first African American assistant public defender, and then as the County’s first African American assistant county attorney, he has spent his career agitating for racial justice.”
Continuing, the attendees were advised, “In a letter to the National Bar Association, South African President Nelson Mandela wrote:
We join your members in paying special tribute to your retiring President, H.T. Smith, whose name became well-known for his consistent and courageous contribution and support for the struggle of our people. We wish H.T. well, and we are confident that wherever injustice and racism raise their ugly heads, H.T. will be there to raise his powerful voice of protest and resistance.”
Pictured, from left to right: Professor Smith, with conversation moderator FIU Law alumna TerryAnn Howell, and event organizer Jennifer Fine
Professor Smith is Founding Director of the FIU Law Trial Advocacy Program. He teaches Trial Advocacy and Advanced Trial Advocacy.
To discover more about the Trial Advocacy at FIU, visit law.fiu.edu/trialad or call 305-348-8095.