Introducing Austin Bar President—D. Todd Smith

On July 1, 2019, D. Todd Smith officially took over the reins of the Austin Bar Association as he began his term as president. Joining him on the executive committee for the 2019- 20 bar year is Kennon Wooten, president-elect; David Courreges, secretary; Amanda Arriaga, treasurer; Adam Schramek, past-president; Sandy Bayne, AYLA president; and Jorge Padilla, AYLA past-president.

Smith, a civil appellate lawyer with the Smith Law Group, is a fifth-generation Texan originally from Fort Worth. His parents moved to rural Johnson County when he was in elementary school, and he grew up in the Crowley area. He returned to Fort Worth for college and earned his bachelor’s degree at TCU. From there, he headed out to West Texas, where he received a master’s degree in public administration from Texas Tech University, and then south to San Antonio, where he earned his J.D. from St. Mary’s University School of Law.

He met his wife, Julie, when they were undergrads at TCU. Married 22 years, they have two sons, Landon (17) and Walker (14). Landon is a senior at Hyde Park High School, and Walker is a freshman at Westlake High School.

AUSTIN BAR: Why did you want to become a lawyer?

SMITH: I am the only lawyer in my family. I first thought about a legal career after my high school speech teacher recruited me and some other students to represent Crowley High in University Interscholastic League speech and debate competitions. When I was a senior, I wound up making the state tournament in standard debate. By that point, I could argue both sides of a controversial issue fairly well. Law seemed like a natural fit.

Another major influence was my father’s reverence for the judicial branch. Dad spent his career working in the field of federal probation, and he valued the relationships he developed with the judges he worked for. He spoke well of them and was honored that they trusted and relied on his recommendations. He made sure I had the opportunity to meet the judges and ask them questions when I first started thinking about law school. He later tried to talk me out of going—thinking he could steer me toward a career in government like he’d had—but by then, my mind was made up.

AUSTIN BAR: What was your first job out of law school?

SMITH: I was privileged to complete a two-year clerkship with Texas Supreme Court Justice Raul A. Gonzalez. That job sparked my interest in appellate work and helped me appreciate the skill set needed to become a successful appellate lawyer. It also brought me to Austin!

AUSTIN BAR: What has been your career path from then until now?

SMITH: After finishing my clerkship, I joined Fulbright & Jaworski, where I had the opportunity to practice with, and learn from, some of the finest appellate lawyers in Texas. After six years in the Dallas office, I transferred to Austin and stayed three more years before launching my own firm in 2006. Since then, I’ve focused my practice on civil appeals and consulting in matters before the Texas Supreme Court, the Third Court of Appeals, and other courts in and around Central Texas.

AUSTIN BAR: How long have you been involved with the Austin Bar?

SMITH: I joined the Austin Bar after moving back in 2003 and really got involved when I went out on my own in 2006. I officed on the twelfth floor at 816 Congress Ave., so an abundance of CLE, networking, and service opportunities were available simply by riding the elevator down five floors. I soon became active in sections and started volunteering for committee work. I ran for director after chairing the Solo/Small Firm and Civil Appellate Sections and put in to become an officer when the time felt right. Every stage has been thoroughly enjoyable.

AUSTIN BAR: Why would you encourage someone to get involved?

SMITH: Most lawyers practice solo or in small-firm settings. In our profession, though, going it alone has become increasingly dangerous. We’re all human, which means we have an innate need to belong, to exchange social feedback, and to receive support when our path is uncertain. The Austin Bar provides innumerable opportunities to connect at whatever level one feels comfortable. Attend a CLE event or section meeting and just observe and learn. Or, go all in and join a committee or sign up for one of our award-winning pro bono projects. There truly is something for everyone in this welcoming and inclusive organization.

Complementing these opportunities, we’ve acquired a permanent home on Judges Hill and will be transitioning to that space during my term. Anyone who has seen the building appreciates its upside, as we’ll be able to host committee meetings, receptions, and other events on-site. The historic property will provide a wonderful environment for our board and committees to meet and further the Austin Bar’s mission of enhancing the legal profession, administration of justice, and our community through education, networking, and public service. There’s never been a better time to join and get involved.

AUSTIN BAR: What has been the biggest benefit you’ve received from being involved in the Austin Bar?

SMITH: The CLE programs alone make Austin Bar membership worth the price of admission. For me, though, participating on committees and getting involved in section leadership was where things took off. I found myself working shoulder-to-shoulder with a cross-section of lawyers and judges I probably would not have come to know otherwise. Now, I am privileged to count many of these folks among my colleagues and friends.

AUSTIN BAR: If you could give your younger self a word of advice, what would you tell him?

SMITH: Don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good.

AUSTIN BAR: What are your goals for the upcoming year?

SMITH: Having acquired Hilgers House during the past bar year, our new focus will be getting it ready, moving in, and getting settled. We have some work left to do in the transition, including a renovation that will turn the carriage house garage into a boardroom-type meeting space and creating ADA-compliant restrooms. I would love for everything to be completed so we can showcase the property to national bar leaders when they come to town in February 2020 for the American Bar Association midyear conference. No pressure!

AUSTIN BAR: Do you have any new initiatives or programs you’re hoping to start this year?

SMITH: We lawyers have trouble coping with the stresses of our profession in healthy ways. This is not some generic problem we only hear about in the national news. In recent years, we have lost valued members of our own legal community to suicide and substance abuse, among other causes. With help, I am developing an initiative that will address lawyer well-being at the local level. This is about more than diet and exercise, although those things certainly factor into one’s overall wellness. We need to break through the stigma that keeps those struggling with mental-health issues from talking about them and getting the help they need.

AUSTIN BAR: What challenges do you think we face as an organization, and how do you think we can overcome them?

SMITH: Providing the same or a better level of service without raising dues is a challenge in any voluntary organization. We have been confronted with increasing overhead costs and somewhat lower membership numbers, creating a challenge on both the revenue and expense sides of the balance sheet. And for a while, we’ll have the joy of paying both a mortgage and rent as we complete the Hilgers House transition. We’ve planned for this overlap, though, and the Hilgers House capital campaign has gone very well, so we are very stable financially despite this challenge. Still, it would be great if we could sublease our 816 Congress space (so we can put that money back into the house) and increase our membership numbers. Once we jettison our downtown rent, our monthly operating expenses will be lower than they were before.

AUSTIN BAR: What is a littleknown fact about yourself?

SMITH: The initial “D” in my name stands for “David,” which was my father’s middle name.

AUSTIN BAR: Is there anything else you’d like to share about yourself or your goals?

SMITH: Organizationally, we are in great shape right now. Our staff is top notch, and we continue to win awards for our programming and raise money for the Austin Bar Foundation and its charitable projects. We’re planning another fantastic winter gala, and we’ll be celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Bench Bar Conference next spring. It’s shaping up to be another great year. Please join us! AL