Biography
Mr. Smith has been practicing law in Baton Rouge, Louisiana for nearly 50 years. Labor and employment law is the principal focus of his practice. He is the President and founder of the Baton Rouge affiliate of the National Employment Lawyers Association, President of the Louisiana Employment Lawyers Association, and Former Chair of both the Labor and Employment and Civil Rights sections of the Louisiana Association for Justice. He is a Fellow of the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers and is a member of the National Trial Lawyers Association. He is also the founder and Chairman Emeritus of the Stand Up for Workers Political Action Committee.
As a seasoned and experienced trial and appellate attorney, he is licensed and practices in all Louisiana state and federal courts, as well as in the U.S. Fifth, Eleventh and Federal Circuits and U.S. Supreme Court.
Mr. Smith has successfully handled many labor and employment cases in state and federal courts and many of his cases have shaped the landscape of labor and employment law in Louisiana.
Litigation Percentage
- 80% of Practice Devoted to Litigation
Bar Admissions
- Louisiana Supreme Court, 1972
- District Court Eastern District of Louisiana, 1974
- District Court Middle District of Louisiana, 1972
- District Court Western District of Louisiana, 1990
- District Court Eastern District of Pennsylvania, 2008
- Court of Appeals 5th Circuit, 1975
- Court of Appeals 11th Circuit
- Supreme Court, 1979
- The Federal Circuit
Education
- Louisiana State University Law Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
J.D. – 1971
With Honors
Law Review: Louisiana Law Review, National First Vice President of the ABA Law Student Division, 1970-1971
Phi Kappa Phi
- Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
B.S. – 1968
With Honors
Omicron Delta Kappa
Major: Business and Public Administration
Publications
- Possible Amicus Curiae Assistance for LAF-J Members in Employment Cases, Louisiana Association For Justice, 02/06/13
- State Employees Should Not Be Required to Exhaust Administrative Remedies. If Any, by Filing Civil Service Appeals before Seeking Relief for Disability Discrimination in the District Courts under the Louisiana Employment Discrimination Law, Louisiana Association For Justice, 10/09/12
- Hot Button Issues in Labor and Employment Law, Louisiana Association for Justice, 12/2011
- Impairment of the Process Protections of Teachers and University Professors, Louisiana Association for Justice, 01/2012
- United States Supreme Court Defines Causation Standard in Title VII Cases, Louisiana Association for Justice, 09/2013
Classes/Seminars
- Numerous Seminars and Conferences on All Aspects of Labor and Employment Law, National Employment Lawyers Association, Louisiana Association for Justice
Professional Associations
- American Bar Association
- Louisiana State Bar Association
- Baton Rouge Bar Association
- Louisiana Association for Justice
- National Trial Lawyers Association
- Louisiana Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Podcasts
- The Mediation Minute (J. Arthur Smith joins Rebecca Wisbar to discuss labor and employment law)
Languages
- English
Fraternities/Sororities
- Lambda Chi Alpha
- Phi Kappa Phi
- Omicron Delta Kappa