Smith is the Dean of the Howard University Law School. He is the former president of the Washington Bar Association and was the first black person to serve as the National President of the Federal Bar Association. In 1985, Smith received the highest award bestowed by the National Bar Association, the C. Francis Stradford Award. Recently, he was elected a Fellow to the American Bar Association Foundation. Smith was the first black student in the nation elected to the position of Governor of Boys' State. He also led the Nebraska Delegation to the White House Conference on Children and Youth in 1960 whose delegates included former U.S. Senator Carl Curtis and the Nebraska Attorney General.

Smith is the Dean of the Howard University Law School. He is the former president of the Washington Bar Association and was the first black person to serve as the National President of the Federal Bar Association. In 1985, Smith received the highest award bestowed by the National Bar Association, the C. Francis Stradford Award. Recently, he was elected a Fellow to the American Bar Association Foundation. Smith was the first black student in the nation elected to the position of Governor of Boys' State. He also led the Nebraska Delegation to the White House Conference on Children and Youth in 1960 whose delegates included former U.S. Senator Carl Curtis and the Nebraska Attorney General.