Joseph W. Smith, a rising family law and domestic relations litigator, is a native of Nashville but is a Memphian at heart and by marriage. Joe received his undergraduate degree from the University of Memphis where he met his college sweetheart, now wife Racheal. They are the proud parents of Joseph W. Smith, II nicknamed “Deuce.”
As a board member of the Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law Alumni Chapter, Joe helps raise scholarships for University of Memphis law students. In 2019 Joe Co-Chaired the 10th Annual Pillars of Excellence Awards, which raised nearly $160,000 toward scholarships.
Joe mentors’ high school students in the Memphis Bar Association’s Summer Law Internship Program, which seeks to develop and nurture an interest in the legal profession among young people from underrepresented groups. This program is similar to the one Joe participated in as a high school student in Nashville, which ultimately led to him becoming an attorney.
In 2015, Joe graduated from Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law at the University of Memphis. In his last semester of law school, Joe worked as a Student Attorney with the Child & Family Litigation Clinic and received the CALI Excellence Award (highest grade award).
In May 2017, Joe became Amy Amundsen’s associate at Rice Amundsen & Caperton, PLLC. As her associate, Joe represented sophisticated clients in complex domestic relations and family law matters including divorce, custody, paternity, prenuptial agreements, and child support.
As a husband, father, and son of divorced parents, Joe has a unique perspective and appreciation for preserving his client’s legacy. To that end, Joe uses his ample court room experience to develop litigation strategy that enhances a cases strengths minimizes its weaknesses and identifies opportunities and threats to meet client objectives.
Trial advocacy is an essential skill to have, especially for a family law and domestic relations litigator. In 2019, Joe participated at the Family Law Trial Advocacy Institute in Boulder, Colorado. Sponsored by the Family Law Section of the American Bar Association (ABA) and the National Institute for Trial Advocacy (NITA), this annual program is an intensive 7-day trial advocacy and education course where practicing attorneys at the beginner and intermediate levels receive personalized instruction from the best and brightest family law trial lawyers, judges, advocacy teachers, and experts across the country while honing their advocacy skills in a hands-on format that places them in a courtroom.
Not only is Joe a sophisticated litigator, but he is also passionate about helping those in need, especially those in the Memphis community. Joe volunteers at the Saturday Legal Clinic sponsored by the Memphis Areal Legal Services, where community members can discuss their legal issues with local attorney’s pro bono.
When Joe is away from the office, he enjoys raising scholarship money for law students at his alma mater, Cecil C. Humphreys school of Law, spending time outside with Deuce, and cheering on the Memphis Tigers. #GoTigersGo