By Jacquelyn Pillsbury
Richard Smith describes himself as a neighborhood attorney with a “solo practice.” And that does not only mean he is the only lawyer there — he’s the only person in his office.
Smith does not even have a secretary — when someone calls his office, Smith personally answers the phone. It is his policy to personally return all phone calls as soon as possible.
Smith, whose practice is located on Pennington Road across the street from Robbins Pharmacy, took a circuitous route to becoming a lawyer.
He spent 17 years working in the state Department of Health, before leaving to run his own business for seven years, and then returned to working for the state.
As he was nearing retirement age, he decided to take the plunge and attend law school in the evenings. It was a move he admits “takes a great deal out of you – emotionally, intellectually, and socially.” The three year program by day, takes four and half years to complete by night.
Smith played clarinet and saxophone for 29 years with Bob Smith’s Lamplighters, his brother’s 17 piece big band. He said the long evenings and weekends helped prepare him for the rigors of law school. “They were some of the best years of my life,” Smith said. “It was a very difficult choice to abandon it for the study of the law.”
He has great satisfaction in his accomplishments. “I proved to myself I was able to do it. I was able to maintain work and get sufficient grades,” Smith said. “It is important for me personally. I live to be able to see I’ve done a good job and helped people prepare for something. There are things I can do in municipal court through the law because I am people-oriented.”
There was at least one other person in his class older than Smith when he graduated from Rutgers University-Camden a decade ago.
Many others were close to his age, though some were in their late 20s and early 30s. He emphasizes to those contemplating law school later in life to “consider the price.” There are no guarantees of passing the bar exam or finding clients upon graduation.
“I have colleagues who started off married and ended up divorced,” he said/ Fortunately, he and his wife, Elayne, celebrated their 44th wedding anniversary this year.
Smith is certified to practice law in New Jersey, including federal, state, and municipal courts. While he can practice anywhere in the state, he tends to stick to the eight or nine municipal courts within a 10 mile radius of his Ewing office.
“Most of what I do is municipal court — the people’s court, where everyday kinds of things happen to people like minor assault, traffic violations, neighbor disputes, shoplifting and harassment.”
He also works with clients sent to state Superior Court from municipal court to try to get the charges reduced back to the local court level. He also works with Juvenile Court complaints, including criminal ones.
Smith offers a special cost saving package on wills, power of attorney and health care directives (living wills). He also works with will challenges and other probate assistance to executors. For larger estates (such as ones including businesses), Smith will recommend a colleague.
“I do not consider myself the attorney who knows everything. I know there is a God, and I am not him,” Smith said.
For example, he recognizes he is not an expert in tax law and refers clients to someone better equipped to handle that kind of an estate. There are times this approach has brought him referrals from other attorneys.
While Smith is also not an expert in real estate law, nor does he have a staff to help him with the paperwork, he will handle simple real estate transactions. He also handles land use law, including local variance issues requiring appearances before local boards.
He will also work with clients for the issuance of temporary and final restraining orders, although he does not practice family law.
After a decade in law, Smith describes himself as “an honest guy who is no longer a rookie.” He still learns something new every day, and he is happy with that.
Richard Smith Esq. is located at 2109 Pennington Road. Phone: (609) 538-1515.
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