Jennifer Ashley Smith

Jennifer Ashley Smith is Of Counsel to Southern Trial Counsel | PLC. Jen received her B.A. from Mercer University in Macon, Georgia, triple-majoring in Criminal Justice, Political Science, and International Relations.  While at Mercer, Jennifer was a full scholarship member of the Division I Volleyball team, earning the esteemed honor of the Atlantic-Sun Conferences All-Academic Team Member each year of her athletic career.  Jen served as a school representative on the Atlantic-Sun Student Athlete Advisory Committee and interned with the Department of NCAA Compliance while finishing her studies as Mercer.  After hanging up her jersey in 2005, Jen still maintains the school’s all-time records for kills per set, points per set in a single season, and the school’s career record for kills per set.

After graduating from Barry University Law School in 2008, Jen began her practice at a local boutique full service firm, focusing on creditor’s rights and commercial litigation.  This led to representation of banks and financial institutions in complex business litigation and real property disputes.  Jen also has significant appellate, bankruptcy, and post-judgment collection experience. 

Jen became Of Counsel to the Firm in 2013 and concentrates her practice on commercial litigation, products liability defense, and retail and hospitality premises litigation. 

In 2015, Jen was elected to the Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division Board of Governors, representing all young lawyers in the Ninth Judicial Circuit.  Jen completed her second consecutive  three-year term on the Florida Bar’s Standing Committee on Student Education and Admission to the Bar, and was recently appointed to three-year terms on the Florida Bar’s Standing Committee on Judicial Administration and Evaluation and the Florida Bar’s Standing Committee on Professionalism. 

Locally, Jen is active in the Orange County Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Section, having been elected to the Board of Directors in 2015.  Jen currently serves as the Young Lawyers Section’s Communications Chair and previously served as the Relay for Life Chair in 2013, the Vice Chair of the YLS Evening with the Judiciary in 2013, the Chair of the YLS Evening with the Judiciary in 2014 and 2015, and the Chair of the YLS Luncheon Committee in 2014-2015.  In 2014, Jen was honored by the Orange County Bar Association for her service to Legal Aid by virtue of her participation in the OCBA AIDS Project, volunteering to assist those suffering from AIDS and/or HIV in preparation of their living wills, power of attorneys, and other legal end of life documentation.  Jen is a Barrister of the George C. Young First Central Florida American Inn of Court and a Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America. 

Jen is a member of the Orange County Bar Association, the Central Florida Association for Women Lawyers, the Florida Bar Business Law Section, the Florida Bar Real Property, Probate, and Trust Section, and the Central Florida Bankruptcy Lawyers Association.  Jen is also a member of Retail and Hospitality Section of DRI, the Food and Supplements Section of the ABA, and the Women in Products Liability Section of the ABA..

Elected Positions:
The Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division Board of Governors, 2015-2017

Orange County Bar Association Young Lawyers Section, Board of Governors, 2015-2017

Professional Appointments:
The Florida Bar Student Education/Admissions to The Bar Committee, Term 2009-2012; 2012-2015

The Florida Bar Judicial Administration and Evaluation Committee, Term 2014-2017

The Florida Bar Committee on Professionalism, Term 2015-2018

Super Lawyers "Rising Star"

Local Bar Leadership:
OCBA Young Lawyers Section, Communications Chair, 2015
OCBA Young Lawyers Section, Luncheon Committee Chair, 2014
OCBA Young Lawyers Section, Evening with the Judiciary, Chair, 2014, 2015
OCBA Young Lawyers Section, Public Relations Committee, 2013, 2014
OCBA Young Lawyers Section, Relay for Life, Chair, 2013
OCBA Young Lawyers Section, Evening with the Judiciary, Vice Chair, 2013
OCBA Young Lawyers Section 250  Project Committee, 2013

Professional Associations and Memberships:
Orange County Bar Association, Young Lawyers Section

Central Florida Bankruptcy Lawyers Association

Central Florida Association of Women Lawyers

The Florida Bar, Business Law Section; Real Property Probate and Trust Law Section; Young Lawyers Division

DRI, Defense Research Institute

ABA, American Bar Association, Women in Products Liability

TLA, Transportation Lawyers Association

LCA, Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America