John E. Smith is a native Houstonian. He was raised on the near east side of Houston in below middle class circumstances. He is familiar with the pressures of financial problems and their toll on the individual and family. He attended HISD schools and graduated from Furr High School. He was able to attend Baylor University and Baylor Law School through academic scholarships and financial aid. John attempts to practice law with the compassion for financial hardships he  learned  in these early years.

 Academic Credentials

John E. Smith received a B.A. cum laude from Baylor University . He later received a Doctor of Jurisprudence from Baylor University School of Law. He is licensed in the State of Texas , the Southern, Eastern, and Western Districts of Texas, and the Fifth Circuit Court Of Appeals.

He has been certified as a specialist in Consumer Bankruptcy Law by Texas Board of Legal Specialization since 1989.

John is a member and Past President (3 terms) of the Houston Association of Debtor Attorneys.

He is a member of the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys. He is also a Master and previous co-chair of the Membership Committee of the Moeller/Foltz Inns of Court, an educational and social organization for top attorneys in the field of bankruptcy law.

He has served on the following committees in the Southern District of Texas: Local Rules, Chapter 13 Procedures, Home Mortgage Pass-Through procedures,  the Consumer Bankruptcy Advisory Committee, and currently, the Local Rules Committee.

 In 2002, he coached a University of Houston team to a second place finish in the Conrad Duberstein Moot Court competition in New York.

John has been a speaker at the following seminars: 2002 South Texas College of Law Bankruptcy Seminar, 2003 State Bar of Texas Advanced Consumer Bankruptcy, 2005 University of Texas Consumer Bankruptcy Seminar, and 2007 HBA Bankruptcy Seminar on the topic of Chapter 12; as well as various local Bar associations.

He published the paper  “Looking for Expenses in All the Wrong Places- A Debtor Attorney’s perspective on 707b” for the 2003 Advanced Consumer Bankruptcy Seminar.

The Staff

PARALEGAL

Patricia Ford has been Mr. Smith's paralegal since 1988. She is generally applauded for her thoroughness and attention to detail. Her role is very important at the law firm. Mr. Smith drafts many documents himself, but could not produce the necessary workload without Patricia.

LEGAL ASSISTANT

Estella Lopez has been working with Mr. Smith since 1987. She works at the prinicpal office in Houston. Estella handles all office duties such as answering phone calls, accounting, and generally helping clients. She has a wonderful attitude and people find it a real pleasure to deal with her.