MEET: Allen C. Smith
Introducing Allen C. Smith, a partner specializing in Civil Litigation at Hedrick Gardner Kincheloe & Garofalo, LLP. Allen currently serves as chair of the firm’s Trucking and Transportation Practice Group and chair of the Civil Litigation Practice. Allen graduated from UNC School of Law in 1992. He is a past president of NCADA and now represents NCADA as our DRI State Representative for which he was recognized last fall with the Kevin Driskill Outstanding State Representative Award, If you don't already know Allen, get to know him a little bit here!
What drew you to the practice of law and to a litigation and trial practice? A lot of attorneys coached basketball at the Central YMCA when I was growing up. I had attorneys four of the five years I played. One was a real jerk, but all of others were nice. As for litigation, I really enjoyed it during my summer clerkships.
How has membership in NCADA benefited your professional life? Meeting other defense lawyers across the state has allowed me to get information on different judges and venues. The annual meetings recharge my batteries.
What would you do if you were not a lawyer? At one point, I had a great deal of interest in teaching history. My unlikely but dream scenario is to be a golf writer and reporter.
What is the biggest career challenge you’ve had to overcome? Having at least two clients go out of business.
What is your favorite legal movie or TV show and why? Suits – great dialogue on this TV show, particularly movie quotes. For movies, My Cousin Vinnie. It came out while I was in law school. Made me want to pass the bar on the first try – did not want fifth time to be charm. Awesome scene on qualifying expert witnesses.
Fun fact that people probably don’t know about you? There is a fun fact about me?
If you could meet one person, dead or alive, to grab a coffee with, who would it be and why? Winston Churchill – the drink would not be coffee! He saved the free world.
What excites you the most right now? Professionally, I love large cases with multiple defendants. They are challenging but they present good learning opportunities. I like seeing how other defense attorneys handle different situations with witnesses in depositions, etc.
What is one piece of professional or life advice you would tell your younger self? Learn how to take a strong stand without being confrontational.
