Elaine Smith is a family law attorney who has devoted more than thirty five years to guiding her clients through the complexities of divorce, domestic relations, child custody and child support. She devotes approximately fifty percent of her time to litigation and has earned a reputation for taking on complex custody cases with great success. Her years of experience have not only made her a valuable asset and resource for her clients, but have also earned her a reputation within Philadelphia’s legal community as a committed advocate. Having published many oft-cited works on custody and visitation, she has also been asked to be a presenter, professor and speaker at many programs hosted by the Philadelphia Bar Association, the Pennsylvania Bar Association and the American Bar Association, among others.
In addition to the work she does on behalf of the firm’s clients, Elaine has also earned the respect of the legal community for the extensive amount of pro bono work that she has done throughout the years, taking on complex cases on behalf of low-income families. When interviewed about her volunteer work, she told the Philadelphia Bar Reporter, “As attorneys, we are leaders and we need to make a commitment to the law and to clients across the board.”
Elaine has served as the Philadelphia Bar Association’s Chair, Section of Family Law, as well as on the Chancellor’s Commission on Children at Risk and the Commission on Judicial Selection and Retention. She established the Smith &Leibel Annual Prize in Family Law at Temple University Law School. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Pennsylvania and earned her Master of Arts degree from Bryn Mawr College before going on to earn her Juris Doctor from Temple University School of Law. She has also served repeatedly as a judge for the Temple University Law School Moot Court.
Honors and Awards
- Established Smith & Leibel Annual Prize in Family Law, Temple University Law School
Professional Associations and Memberships
- Philadelphia Bar Association, Family Law Section, Member, Executive Committee, 1982 – 1986
- Philadelphia Bar Association, Family Law Section, Member, Executive Committee, 1991
- Philadelphia Bar Association, Family Law Section, Member, Executive Committee, 1994
- Philadelphia Bar Association, Family Law Section, Member, Executive Committee, 2001
- Philadelphia Bar Association, Family Law Section, Member, Executive Committee, 2002
- Philadelphia Bar Association, Family Law Section, Section Chair, 1989
- Philadelphia Bar Association, Family Law Section, Chair, Custody Committee, 1999 – 2002
- Philadelphia Bar Association, Family Law Section, Chair, Custody Committee, 1984
- Philadelphia Bar Association, Family Law Section, Chair, Custody Committee, 1984
- Philadelphia Bar Association, Family Law Section, Section Vice Chair, 1988
- Philadelphia Bar Association, Family Law Section, Treasurer, 1987
- Philadelphia Bar Association, Family Law Section, Secretary, 1985
- Philadelphia Bar Association, Family Law Section, Co-Chair, Committee on Cultural Diversity, 1995 – 1999
- Philadelphia Bar Association, Family Law Section, Task Force on Domestic Relations Legislative Reform Equitable Distribution Committee, Chairman, 1986 – 1988
- Philadelphia Bar Association, Family Law Section, Chair, Long Range Planning Committee, 1991
- Philadelphia Bar Association, Family Law Section, Chair, Task Force, One Judge, One Family, Consolidated Case Management, 1988 – 1994
- Philadelphia Bar Association, Family Law Section, Co-Chair, Committee on Diversity, 2002
- Philadelphia Bar Association, Family Law Section, Member, Chancellor’s Commission on Children At Risk, 1994
- Philadelphia Bar Association, Family Law Section, Member, Legislative Liaison Committee, 1995 – 2002
- Computer Lawyers Users Group, Member, 1993 – 1996
- Commission on Judicial Selection and Retention, Member, 1988
- Philadelphia Bar Association, Family Law Section, Member, City Policy Committee, 1998
- Philadelphia Bar Association, Family Law Section, Member, Fee Dispute Committee, 1995 – 2002
- Pennsylvania Bar Association, Family Law Section, MemberAmerican Bar Association, Family Law Section, Member
- American Bar Association, Family Law Section, Member
- Pennsylvania Bar Institute, Member, Planning Committee
- Smith & Leibel Annual Prize in Family Law, Temple Law School, Sponsor
Past Employment Positions
- Smith & Leibel, Senior Partner, 1981 – 1987
- Philadelphia Bar Association, Chair, Section of Family Law, 1989
- Chancellor’s Commission on Children At Risk, 1994
- Commission on Judicial Selection and Retention, 1989
- Philadelphia Bar Association, Section of Family Law, Chair, 1989
- Private Practice, 1975 – 1998
