Bruce W. Smith
Of Counsel
Bruce W. Smith
Of Counsel
Phone: 207.772.1941 Fax: 207.772.3627 Email: ofcounsel@dwmlaw.com
84 Marginal Way, Suite 600
Portland, ME 04101-2480Assistant: Ceara Kazilionis Email: ckazilionis@dwmlaw.com
About
Bruce Smith works with school districts, public entities and private employers throughout the State of Maine. Since joining the firm in 1985, he has advised and advocated for schools in collective bargaining, teacher nonrenewals and dismissals, student disciplinary matters and a wide variety of other school law matters.
Bruce has represented schools in numerous labor arbitrations, court cases, and Maine Human Rights Commission proceedings. He serves as counsel to Maine School Management Association on school board policy development. His focus on employment and labor law enables him to serve private sector clients in these matters as well.
Bruce has stayed on the cutting edge of legal aspects of technology development in the schools, publishing articles and policies on the subject. His materials on family and medical leave are used by school districts throughout the State of Maine. Bruce is listed in Best Lawyers in America, a guide to leading lawyers in the country, in the category of Education Law. In addition, he is included in Chambers USA, an independent guide to the top lawyers in the U.S., in the category of Employment Law.
Bruce is an instructor in school law to graduate students, current school administrators and aspiring administrators in the University of Southern Maine Graduate School of Education. He is a co-author of the book, Maine School Law (Fourth Edition 2012). He speaks frequently at seminars in Maine and nationally.
Education
University of Maine School of Law, J.D., cum laude, 1984
Middlebury College, B.A., cum laude, 1976
Judicial Clerkship
Hon. Gene Carter, U.S. District Court for the District of Maine
Recognition
Education Law Lawyer of the Year, Portland, ME (Awarded by Best Lawyers)
Best Lawyers USA, Education Law 2008-2020
Martindale Hubbell, BV Distinguished
Publications
Co-Author, Maine School Law, Fourth Edition (2012)
Memberships
Maine State Bar Association
Maine Council of School Board Attorneys
National Council of School Board Attorneys
Community/Public Service
Preble Street Resource Center
Pro bono Legal Counsel and Former Board Member