C. Todd Smith Law

04/02/2026

As I’ve written about this issue previously on my blog, this New York Times video is a powerful reminder that vehicle safety has not always been designed with women in mind.

For years, crash testing standards were built around the male body, and the consequences have been serious. Women are more likely to suffer severe injuries in crashes, yet this is still not talked about nearly enough.

In the United States, women are more likely to be injured and die in a car crash than men. Why? After her own crash, the filmmaker Eve Van D**e dug through the half-century history of auto safety to find out, and uncovered a disturbing reality: Cars were never designed to protect women’s bodies.

03/18/2026

On this day in 1963, the Supreme Court decided in Gideon v. Wainwright that “lawyers in criminal courts are necessities, not luxuries.”

I started my career as an assistant public defender, and saw firsthand that the foundation of a fair justice system is the right to an attorney. That principle ensures that everyone, regardless of their circumstances or financial status, has legal representation in criminal court and equal protection under the law.

, March 18, 1963, the Supreme Court ruled in Gideon v. Wainwright that "Lawyers in criminal courts are necessities, not luxuries."

02/26/2026

Looking forward to a great CLE the OCBA Solo & Small Firm Committee is hosting next Wednesday. I'll be doing a short presentation on "Becoming an AI Law Firm", but the star of the show will be Rachel McGarry who is an AI Legal Consultant who will be doing a hands-on AI demonstration.

02/26/2026

Alright Orlando, are you ready for Waymo? Will you ride in a driverless car?

02/25/2026

I recently had the pleasure of attending the Orange County Bar Association’s February luncheon and meeting Sia Baker-Barnes, President of The Florida Bar. Her insights on the profession, leadership, and the future of the legal community were inspiring. Thank you, President Baker-Barnes, for taking the time to join us and for your service to the Bar and to lawyers across Florida!

12/30/2025

As we welcome the new year, I want to take a moment to thank my clients, friends, and community for another incredible year of trust and support. It’s truly a privilege to serve the people of Central Florida and to call Orlando home.

For more than 30 years, I’ve been committed to standing up for clients and guiding them through some of life’s most difficult moments. If you or someone you know needs an experienced, local attorney in the year ahead, we’re here to help.

Wishing you a happy, healthy, and successful New Year.

11/27/2025

Grateful for our clients, colleagues, and community this Thanksgiving.

Wishing you a safe and happy holiday! 🍁

11/05/2025

🐷⚖️ The Big Bad Wolf finally had his day in court!

I had a blast playing the Big Bad Wolf in a mock trial at West Creek Elementary with the Orange County Bar Association.

The second-grade students were our jury and heard the case of B.B. Wolf vs Curly the Pig. Let's just say Curly the Pig made a pretty convincing witness! 🐖💼 Despite having a great attorney, sadly I lost.

Huge thanks to the students that acted as our jury and hopefully learned something about the legal process while having some fun.

Thanks to the Law Week Committee and the OCBA for putting on this great Law Week tradition, and to my fellow volunteers and castmates.

10/29/2025

Grateful to have recently been a part of the OCBA New Lawyer Training Program, where I joined a fantastic panel to talk all things marketing for new lawyers. We discussed our successes and failures and everything in between when it comes to marketing a law practice.

Thank you to Judge Leach for organizing and moderating the program, and to my fellow panelists David from and for sharing their insight and experience. Always great to connect with the next generation of attorneys who are eager to grow their practices and make a difference in our community. Thank you for attending!

10/01/2025

Last week I had the pleasure of visiting with the newest class of Assistant Public Defenders at on behalf of the with and . We were there to invite them to join the OCBA and share some of the benefits that membership has brought to our practices over the years.

It was extra special for me because I started my own career as an Assistant Public Defender in 1994, and this was my first time back in the office since then. Being back in the office reminded me how much being a PD shaped who I am as a lawyer today.

To the new class of PDs, welcome to the profession, and I hope to see many of you as active members of the OCBA community.

Thank you to Public Defender Melissa Vickers for the invitation.

07/17/2025

Had a great time at the Law Clerks Reception last night! 🎉⚖️ It’s a great way to welcome summer law clerks to our OCBA community and support the next generation of legal professionals 💼🙌