GSB Vol. 16, NO. 1, Pg. 58. Former General Counsel of State Bar Receives Distinguished Service Award.

• Author: by Derrick W. Stanley

Georgia Bar Journal

Volume 16.

GSB Vol. 16, NO. 1, Pg. 58.

Former General Counsel of State Bar Receives Distinguished Service Award

GSB JournalVol. 16, NO. 1August 2010Former General Counsel of State Bar Receives Distinguished Service Awardby Derrick W. StanleyThe Distinguished Service Award is the highest honor bestowed by the State Bar of Georgia for conspicuous service to the cause of jurisprudence and to the advancement of the legal profession in the state of Georgia.

The 2010 recipient, William P. "Bill" Smith III, was honored with this most prestigious award during the Bar's Annual Meeting at Amelia Island, Fla., on June 19.

The award was presented at the Inaugural Gala where attendees gave a standing ovation as he was presented his resolution. "The State Bar of Georgia specifically attributes our reputation as having one of the most respected lawyer disciplinary programs in the United States to the diligent effort and innovative and progressive leadership of Bill Smith," said State Bar President Bryan M. Cavan in making the presentation. "His outstanding and faithful service as a trial lawyer, Bar leader at the local, state and national levels, community servant and for 25 years as general counsel of the State Bar is a credit to the profession and an inspiration to all Georgia lawyers."

Smith is a graduate of Emory University Law School and was admitted to the State Bar in 1965. He worked as a sole practitioner and with the Decatur firm of Zion, Smith, Tarleton and Siskin, P.C., before joining the State Bar as general counsel. He served on the Board of Governors and Executive Committee of the State Bar and is a past president of the Decatur-DeKalb Bar Association. In 1996-97, he served as president of the National Organization of Bar Counsel.

Among the many innovations and changes introduced under the leadership of Smith, the State Bar of Georgia pioneered the concept of a Grievance Counsel to streamline the disciplinary process and speed up the review of consumer grievances and instituted a lawyer "helpline" for members of the State Bar who are faced with dilemmas or questions involving ethics issues. He also conducted an active outreach program, lectured extensively throughout Georgia and the nation on various professional responsibility topics such as conflicts of interest, lawyer marketing and fees, and is...