J. Christopher Smith is One of California’s Best Parole Advocacy and Criminal Defense Attorneys

Professional Overview

J. Christopher Smith is the founder of the Law Offices of J. Christopher Smith. Although his primary practice areas include parole advocacy and criminal defense,he has represented clients in personal injury and civil rights cases. Mr. Smith has successfully defended clients charged with bank robbery, driving under the influence, strike, allegations, petty theft, juvenile cases, narcotics sales and possession, rape, homicide and attempted homicide, and a host of other criminal matters. He has also tried numerous jury trials with exceptional results. In addition, Mr. Smith has used his negotiation and litigation skills to advocate for youth in the juvenile justice system, individuals with parole revocation concerns, and those facing probation violations.

He is well known for representing Grammy-winning singer Faith Evans, celebrity attorney Howard K. Stern (on conspiracy charges relating to Anna Nicole Smith), and -rapper T.I. and his wife. Mr. Smith also represented Giovanni Ramirez in connection with the beating of San Francisco Giants fan Bryan Stow at Dodger Stadium.

Before establishing his own practice, Mr. Smith served as a Trial Attorney with the Los Angeles County Public Defender's Office. There, he successfully represented thousands of clients charged with misdemeanor and felony offenses while managing a significant caseload. In addition, Mr. Smith is a former Southern California staff attorney with the California Parole Advocacy Program (CalPAP), which was operated by McGeorge School of Law's Institute for Administrative Justice. As an attorney with CalPAP, he supervised more than twenty attorneys defending the rights of individuals charged with violating parole. Prior to that, Mr. Smith served as an associate of a Downtown Los Angeles firm where he litigated business law, employment, and labor issues.

Before he became an attorney, Mr. Smith served as a judicial assistant for the Los Angeles County Superior Court. He was a court manager in civil, criminal, and family law courtrooms. Mr. Smith also worked at the National Criminal Defense College, where he helped with the implementation of continuing legal education programs for attorneys who wanted to practice criminal defense.

He is a frequent legal commentator on ABC7 News and on Legal Ease.tv. Mr. Smith also appeared on television as one of the top twelve attorneys in the country to compete in David E. Kelly's legal reality series called "The Law Firm." Mr. Smith has had his cases published in newspapers and he was included in the 16th Edition of Who's Who Among American Law Students.

He was born in Hollywood and raised in Los Angeles, CA. Mr. Smith graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from the University of California at Los Angeles and earned his law degree from the Walter F. George School of Law at Mercer University. While attending the Walter F. George School of Law, he competed as a quarter finalist in the Southern Region Frederick Douglass moot court competition. Mr. Smith is currently a member of the UCLA and UCLA Black Alumni Associations and served as general counsel and secretary for UCLA Black Alumni Association.

When this fearless attorney isn't working, he enjoys a relaxing round of golf and watching the Oakland Raiders. A man with a palate for great food, he likes to celebrate some of his winsat Beverly Hills' Mastro's. Mr. Smith is currently reading Tom Gehring's Settle It! ... and be Blessed.

Mr. Smith's Memories and Motivations

Did Mr. Smith receive any awards or participate in any internship that influenced his decision to go into the law? While studying at UCLA, Mr. Smith and his roommates revitalized the black pre-law society. This experience influenced him to attend law school.

Does he have a most memorable law school experience? Although Mr. Smith had many memorable moments during law school, he recalled a prank that was set up by one of his professors and his then-girlfriend at that time. Mr. Smith's girlfriend was in town for a brief visit. She was introduced to the professor at a social event the evenings before law school classes were to resume after a long weekend. The professor and the girlfriend devised a scheme to pull a prank on Mr. Smith, where the professor was going to call on her during one of his classes. At the social event, the professor suggested that Mr. Smith take his girlfriend to his jurisdiction and judgment class the following day. On that day and to Mr. Smith's surprise, his professor asked his girlfriend a question as if she was a student in the class and she responded with a textbook and polished answer. As Mr. Smith was trying to comprehend what had just occurred, the professor called on him, but he was just too befuddled to answer. His classmates filmed the experience from the back of the classroom.Needless to say, Mr. Smith has vowed to return the favor to his professor one of these days.

Why did Mr. Smith decide to become an attorney? He said he was the first person in his family to graduate from college. Mr. Smith grew up in a working class community. His ideas of being successful - professionally speaking - came from watching television. Those images were primarily of doctors and lawyers. In addition, he grew up learning about injustice in his own community as he watched some of his contemporaries fall to the ills of society, not because they were bad people, but because of their circumstance. He wanted to be a voice to speak up against injustice which fueled his drive to become a lawyer.

So what is the best part of his job? "Winning comes in different forms. Whether I help my clients secure a great settlement or they receive a not guilty verdict, my goal is to achieve favorable results for them."
What is Mr. Smith known for professionally? "I am a trial lawyer. I am someone who is unwavering and I fight for people who don't have a voice."

What area of the law is he most passionate about? "Criminal defense."

Is there an area of practice Mr. Smith would like to develop further into? "I will continue to develop my civil rights practice."

What does he think about criminal law today? "California is going through interesting changes. Our governor and legislature are slowly moving toward implementing alternatives to incarceration. They are thinking about how a person can be rehabilitated and they can turn their life around. Hopefully, more individuals will value rehabilitation rather than warehousing people."

If Mr. Smithweren't a lawyer, what would he probably be doing? "I don't know. I love litigation. Being in the courtroom and having something to argue is an adrenalin rush that I can't get anywhere else. But if I could play an instrument, I would probably be a musician."

Where does he see himself in five years? Mr. Smith noted that he has learned a lot from litigation and trying cases. He believes his invaluable experience as an attorney would benefit him when he becomes a judge.

What motivates Mr. Smith to be an attorney everyday? He acknowledged that his clients motivate him to be an attorney everyday. Mr. Smith continued to say that he enjoys helping individuals who were wronged in some way. He added, "I am doing what I am destined to do."

How doe she want to be remembered? "I want to be remembered as an example. If someone can say, 'If Mr. Smith can be an attorney then so can I,' that says it all."

High Profile Cases

In 2012, Giovanni Ramirez was accused of attacking San Francisco Giants fan Bryan Stow on opening dayat Dodger Stadium. The alleged beating launched a massive manhunt that lasted two days. The LAPD took Ramirez into custody on a parole violation. He served 10 months in prison because law enforcement officials found a firearm in an apartment where he had stayed. But investigators couldn't find evidence that tied Ramirez to the beating. Two months after Ramirez's arrest, images of Stow's attackers showed the fans who had assaulted him inside the stadium. Marvin Norwood, age 31, and Louie Sanchez, 29, were arrested for beating Stow. Both men are currently facing charges for that incident.

Mr. Smith represented Ramirez. Was he pleased with the outcome of the case? He said he handled Ramirez's parole case. Mr. Smith explained that the materials he went through didn't coincide with the media's account of how his client supposedly attacked Stow. Prosecutors did not file criminal charges against Ramirez, but he was accused of violating his parole. Mr. Smith believes the media had an influence on Ramirez's revocation hearing and that his client was sent to prison because of the public perception that he was a bad person and involved in the attack on Stow.

In 2011, Howard K. Stern was acquitted on eight charges, but he faced two conspiracy felony convictions relating to Playboy Playmate and E! reality star Anna Nicole Smith. Was Mr. Smith able to clear Stern on conspiracy charges? Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Robert J. Perry ruled that there was insufficient evidence to support the conspiracy charges relating to the false name allegations. However, the District Attorney is currently appealing the judge's decision before California Supreme Court. Mr. Smith added, "As of today, Stern has no convictions."

In 2011, Faith Evans was accused of driving under the influence of alcohol. After Mr. Smith was retained on the case, the charges were reduced and a resolution was reached on the matter. Was Mr. Smith satisfied with the outcome of her case? "We reached a resolution at that time that made sense. We didn't go to trial."

Being a Trial Attorney with the Los Angeles County Public Defender's Office, Working as a Southern California Staff Attorney with CalPAP and Serving as an Associate at a Downtown Los Angeles Firm

Mr. Smith was a Trial Attorney with the Los Angeles County Public Defender's Office. How was this experience? "It was an invaluable experience. While I was an undergrad at UCLA, I volunteered working at the public defender's office. That's when I knew I wanted to be a defense attorney. It was a great place to learn litigation skills." Mr. Smith served more than seven years at the public defender's office, where he met judges, prosecutors, and he learned how to represent individuals who didn't have a voice.

Mr. Smith was a Southern California staff attorney with the California Parole Advocacy Program (CalPAP), where he oversaw more than twenty attorneys defending the rights of those accused of parole violations. Does he consider himself a mentor to those attorneys he supervised? "I was a mentor to some attorneys who didn't have a large defense background. They had civil litigation experience and I was able to help them with their cross-examination skills. I also helped them continue their legal education."

Mr. Smith was also a former associate of a Downtown Los Angeles firm where he litigated labor, employment, and business law matters. Did this experience influence him to become a criminal defense attorney? "In a way it did. Civil litigation can be boring. I was occupied with depositions and interrogatories. I asked myself, 'Why did I become a lawyer in the first place?' I wanted juries and I wanted to be in the courtroom."

Serving as a Judicial Assistant for the Los Angeles County Superior Court, Being Employed with the National Criminal Defense College, Reality Television and Speaking Engagements

Mr. Smith worked for the Los Angeles County Superior Court as a judicial assistant, where he served as a court manager in criminal, civil, and family law courtrooms. What motivated him to do this? "I worked with judges and I had the opportunity to clerk in general civil and criminal courtrooms as well as family law courtrooms. It was another step for me leading to law school."

Mr. Smith was employed with the National Criminal Defense College, where he assisted with the implementation of continuing legal education programs for attorneys in the area of criminal defense. Has he thought about teaching criminal defense to law students? "Through the years, I have spoken at continuing legal education seminars teaching lawyers how to properly defend parole matters and techniques for trial advocacy in criminal matters. In addition, I have sat as a judge in moot court to help law school students prepare for their competitions, but I never thought about teaching criminal procedure or criminal defense law."

Mr. Smith appeared on television as one of the top twelve lawyers in the nation to compete in NBC's "The Law Firm," a legal reality series created by David E. Kelly. How was this experience? Would he participate in reality television again? "I had the opportunity to participate in a legal reality series where I tried real civil cases in front of juries, judges and arbitrators. It was a unique experience, but I doubt I would be involved with reality television to that extent again."

He isa frequent legal commentator on television and on the web. Will Mr. Smith continue with his speaking engagements? "Yes. I discussed the trial of Conrad Murray(People of the State of California v. Conrad Robert Murray) forABC7. I also discuss hot topics concerning current legal issues in the media and what's relevant in the justice system for LegalEase.tv."

Influential Judge John Meigs and Mr. Smith's Goals

Did Mr. Smith have a mentor? Although Mr. Smith said there were no lawyers in his community, revitalizing the black pre-law society at UCLA allowed him to make certain connections that steered him in the right direction. He also noted that retired Judge John Meigs was an influence and lead by example.

Does the attorney have goals? "Personally, I would like to be a better husband to my wife, Kathryn, and I look forward to being a father one day. Professionally, I will continue to get better and sharper. I also would like to have more influence on individuals who are faced with adversity."

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