W. Reece Smith Jr.

William Reece Smith Jr. was a powerful force in the legal community who left a lasting impact not only in our community but in communities across the country. His career spanned six decades - serving as president of the Hillsborough County Bar Association, the Florida Bar, the American Bar Association, and the International Bar Association. 

Smith’s commitment to legal aid and pro bono services was at the core of his accomplishments. While serving his term as the president of the American Bar Association, Smith successfully led opposition to a proposed elimination of the Legal Services Corporation, Bay Area Legal Services’ largest funder, which also provides legal services to low-income people across the United States. He also established the American Bar Association Pro Bono Center and Florida Legal Services, Inc. The Wm. Reece Smith, Jr. Litigation American Inn of Court was named in his honor. 

He is the namesake of the Wm. Reece Smith Endowment. This endowment provides general funds to support our mission of providing free civil legal services to low-income Tampa Bay area residents.

Upon his passing in 2013, Bay Area Legal’s own, Dick Woltmann, relayed the following to the Tampa Tribune: “If not for William Reece Smith, legal services to the poor would probably not exist in this country. Reece was one of the great supporters of legal services for the poor both nationally and locally.” 

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