North Carolina Central University School of Law Dean Joseph K. Grant has appointed Professor Katrina Smith ‘09 as interim associate dean of clinical legal education and experiential learning.
Smith joined the NCCU School of Law faculty in 2022 and served as an assistant clinical professor of law and director of the Family Law Clinic, where she supervised students representing clients in family law matters. She also teaches Evidence, Appellate Advocacy Pleadings and Practice and serves as the law school's competition teams coordinator.
Before joining the faculty, Smith practiced law throughout the Triangle region and founded her own law firm. Her legal experience includes family law, landlord-tenant law, intellectual property and business law. As a first-generation attorney, she brings practical experience in client representation, law practice management and the evolving demands of the legal profession to the classroom.
A three-time graduate of NCCU, Smith earned a Bachelor of Science in criminal justice in 2005, a Bachelor of Science in family and consumer sciences in 2006, and a Juris Doctor from the NCCU School of Law in 2009. She is a native of Raleigh, North Carolina.
Dean Grant said Smith's experience in clinical legal education and commitment to student success make her well suited to lead the law school's experiential learning programs.
"Professor Smith has demonstrated a commitment to preparing students for the practice of law through exceptional clinical instruction, mentorship and leadership," Grant said. "As we prepare for the NextGen Bar Exam and continue strengthening our nationally recognized clinical programs, I am confident she will build upon our tradition of excellence and ensure our graduates are practice-ready from day one."
Since the 1970s, the NCCU School of Law has been a leader in clinical legal education in North Carolina and has earned national recognition for developing innovative experiential learning opportunities that prepare students for legal practice.
"I am honored and grateful to Dean Grant for the opportunity to serve as interim associate dean of clinical legal education and experiential learning," Smith said. "NCCU School of Law has shaped me as a student, lawyer, educator and servant-leader, and I am humbled to continue serving this institution in a new capacity.”