Campbell Law 50th Anniversary Spotlight: Leigh Ann Smith ‘95
Leigh Ann Smith ’95 has tried more than 52 weeks of trial in the past decade representing both corporate defendants and health care providers. She has particular depth of experience in cases involving perinatal injury and death, with first-chair defense victories. She has won cases with potential damage awards in the millions, including a birth trauma case with a life care plan between $25-50 million. A graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Leigh Ann Smith earned her J.D., with honors, from Campbell Law, where she ranked sixth in her class and was a member of Phi Kappa Phi. She also served as both Business and Membership Editor of the Campbell Law Review and was a member of the National Moot Court Team.
Current Role: Partner at Batten McLamb Smith PLLC
Why Campbell Law?
I grew up in North Carolina, went to the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill for undergrad and knew that I wanted to practice law in North Carolina. Campbell had a great program and had the highest bar passage rate for North Carolina (at that time).
In practice
I do all defense litigation mostly in defense of representing both corporate defendants and health care providers when sued for professional liability that results in personal injury. While at Campbell, I clerked for two general practice firms in Rocky Mount and Raleigh and was attracted to litigation. I started my career at Cranfill, Sumner and Hartzog before starting my own practice in 2010.
A lesson that stuck
“Campbell Law had a tremendous recruiting program and I went straight from college to law school with no job experience. I will never forget I went to all the job interviewing classes that Campbell offered. My instructor was Wake County Judge Hoyt Tessener who did mock interviews with me and stressed always highlight the positives and accept an adverse ruling with grace and appreciation! I have used that often in my career across most litigation settings.
People who shaped you
A professor who shaped my law school experience and career path was my Civil Procedure and Trial Advocacy Professor Tom Anderson.
On being Campbell Law Family
I am not a legacy but my husband is a Campbell Law grad from the Class of 1999.
Advice to current students
“Work hard and take advantage of all resources Campbell offers. I came to Campbell straight from undergrad with no real contacts in the legal world but worked extremely hard and availed myself of all resources.”
The next 50 years
“I think Campbell made a tremendous decision by moving to Raleigh, our state’s Capital, to utilize the resources there and to strategically partner with our state’s other great universities for dual degrees. It continues to attract top notch students.”
Sidebar
Currently reading/listening to: “The Tell” by Amy Griffin and listening to all things Dolly Parton right now!
Most adventurous thing: Backpacking with my Mother across the “Down Under” for five weeks after graduating from Campbell Law in 1995.
Favorite Raleigh spot: The revival of the Rialto! Red Hat; Favorite neighborhood restaurants: Bloomsbury Bistro and Glenwood Grill.
Proudest moment: Births of our three kids: William, Stella and Garner!