Advocating for Success

The promise of “justice for all” is at the core of the American dream. For Christine Smith, it has been the lodestar of a brilliant and long career.

Smith, who retired from UNLV as associate dean in June, was one of the founders of the William S. Boyd School of Law in 1998. “We knew that because Boyd would be the only law school in Nevada, it needed to be a service to the people of Nevada,” she reflects.

She used her passion to develop a community service program that remains not only a valuable part of the curriculum, but a requirement for graduation.

For decades, Boyd students have partnered with other Nevada legal organizations to teach free legal education courses to nearly 80,000 people in the community.

Even after their public service requirements have been fulfilled, Boyd students — and alumni — continue to serve those in need.

Sean Claggett, ’00 B.A. and ’03 J.D., says Smith was the most influential person in shaping his idea of what it meant to be a lawyer. She opened his eyes to the need for legal help in their community and was the catalyst for a culture among Nevada lawyers of giving back, he says.

In recognition of Smith’s enormous influence, Boyd Law’s Community Service Program will be renamed in her honor. The law school also established the Christine Smith Public Interest Fellowship Program to support Boyd’s public service mission.

Leah Chan Grinvald, Dean and Richard J. Morgan Professor of Law, praised the innovative nature of the Christine Smith Community Service Program.

“We cannot overstate how in debt we are to Christine for all of her work in making this a cornerstone of the Boyd Law experience,” Chan Grinvald says.

Supporting future generations of Rebels so they can serve our communities is easy to do. Contact Eric Schimmoeller at 702-895-3641 or plannedgiving@unlv.edu today to learn more about including UNLV in your estate plan.