"Dean Smith has had an enormous impact on legal education, both at the national level and in guiding California Western to unprecedented levels of respect. His work as chair of the ABA’s Section on Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar improved the quality of law schools and he ensured that students receive full value for their educational investment. The Consortium for Innovative Legal Education he helped create with my school and others has been a huge international success, attracting a Supreme Court Justice to lecture each summer. Dean Smith’s many contributions, along with his eagerness to explore new ideas and his unwavering integrity, have made him one of the most respected deans in the country."
Dean John F. O'Brien, New England School of Law
"As an alum who graduated 40 years ago, I can tell you the impact Dean Smith has had on California Western has been tremendous, from uplifting the overall image of the school to significantly boosting bar passage rates to improving the library and other facilities. He’s accomplished it through sheer hard work and because he’s a true leader who is a great human with outstanding moral character and honesty. He’s had a wonderful personal relationship with alumni around the country, and I think I can speak for most of them by saying we’ve been fortunate to have had Steve as our dean. He has made us all extremely proud to be associated with California Western."
Mitch Michino '72, attorney, member, California Western Council of Visitors
"As a graduate, former adjunct professor, and associate dean, I have one of the longer-term perspectives on California Western, having seen it in some of its most challenging periods, including when it was not well thought of and nearly went out of existence. The academic stature Dean Smith built over the past 16 years has taken the school to remarkable new heights. I can attest to talking to people all over that it has resulted in the school’s increasingly strong reputation nationally and locally. Steve is a brilliant guy, but he never used that brilliance as a weapon, but rather as a tool, along with his business savvy, to constantly move the school forward. I greatly admire the man."
Dennis Avery '70, retired attorney and former associate dean
"California Western kept my father’s vision alive by bringing his National Center for Preventive Law to the school. Both Dean Smith and Professor Tom Barton (coordinator) understand that preventive law, including conflict resolution and creative problem solving, are among the most potent but underutilized tools in the legal profession. Fortunately, California Western is equipping its students with these critical skills, which not only anticipate and resolve problems before they reach litigation, they save clients and society in general enormous amounts of time and money."
Harold Brown, attorney, son of Hermione and Louis Brown, whose foundation endowed the preventive law program at California Western and the Louis & Hermione Brown Professorship of Law
"One of the highlights of my time at California Western has been the chance to work closely with Dean Smith. He always had such a positive attitude and encouraged and supported us when we weren’t sure about pursing a particular project. He created an environment in which students and faculty are able to develop close relationships. We don’t feel like numbers here, but more like a big family. The dean’s push to involve students in the community has given us skills we’ll use the rest of our careers. We couldn’t have had a better role model than Dean Smith, and the students will miss him."
Kevin Magennis '12, current Student Bar Association president
"Dean Smith has played extremely important roles in legal education over many decades now. He was the first appointee to the rotating faculty position at the Association of American Law Schools created to ensure the executive director of the Association of American Law Schools had a talented, committed faculty colleague in the national office, one who would bring additional energy and strength to the organization. Because he is so experienced and has earned the trust of so many, Steve is often able to make quiet contributions to the resolution of problems, contributions that most people never know he made."
Susan Westerberg Prager, executive director and CEO,
Association of American Law Schools;
former dean, UCLA School of Law
"Dean Smith has had an enormous impact on legal education, both at the national level and in guiding California Western to unprecedented levels of respect. His work as chair of the ABA’s Section on Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar improved the quality of law schools and he ensured that students receive full value for their educational investment. The Consortium for Innovative Legal Education he helped create with my school and others has been a huge international success, attracting a Supreme Court Justice to lecture each summer. Dean Smith’s many contributions, along with his eagerness to explore new ideas and his unwavering integrity, have made him one of the most respected deans in the country."
"As an alum who graduated 40 years ago, I can tell you the impact Dean Smith has had on California Western has been tremendous, from uplifting the overall image of the school to significantly boosting bar passage rates to improving the library and other facilities. He’s accomplished it through sheer hard work and because he’s a true leader who is a great human with outstanding moral character and honesty. He’s had a wonderful personal relationship with alumni around the country, and I think I can speak for most of them by saying we’ve been fortunate to have had Steve as our dean. He has made us all extremely proud to be associated with California Western."
"As a graduate, former adjunct professor, and associate dean, I have one of the longer-term perspectives on California Western, having seen it in some of its most challenging periods, including when it was not well thought of and nearly went out of existence. The academic stature Dean Smith built over the past 16 years has taken the school to remarkable new heights. I can attest to talking to people all over that it has resulted in the school’s increasingly strong reputation nationally and locally. Steve is a brilliant guy, but he never used that brilliance as a weapon, but rather as a tool, along with his business savvy, to constantly move the school forward. I greatly admire the man."
"California Western kept my father’s vision alive by bringing his National Center for Preventive Law to the school. Both Dean Smith and Professor Tom Barton (coordinator) understand that preventive law, including conflict resolution and creative problem solving, are among the most potent but underutilized tools in the legal profession. Fortunately, California Western is equipping its students with these critical skills, which not only anticipate and resolve problems before they reach litigation, they save clients and society in general enormous amounts of time and money."
"One of the highlights of my time at California Western has been the chance to work closely with Dean Smith. He always had such a positive attitude and encouraged and supported us when we weren’t sure about pursing a particular project. He created an environment in which students and faculty are able to develop close relationships. We don’t feel like numbers here, but more like a big family. The dean’s push to involve students in the community has given us skills we’ll use the rest of our careers. We couldn’t have had a better role model than Dean Smith, and the students will miss him."
"Dean Smith has played extremely important roles in legal education over many decades now. He was the first appointee to the rotating faculty position at the Association of American Law Schools created to ensure the executive director of the Association of American Law Schools had a talented, committed faculty colleague in the national office, one who would bring additional energy and strength to the organization. Because he is so experienced and has earned the trust of so many, Steve is often able to make quiet contributions to the resolution of problems, contributions that most people never know he made."