Bruce W. Smith

Attorney

207.253.0538 Direct
207.772.3627 Fax

bwsmith@dwmlaw.com

84 Marginal Way, Suite 600
Portland, ME 04101-2480

Assistant: Katie Romasco

PRACTICE AREAS

EDUCATION

  • University of Maine School of Law, J.D., cum laude, 1984
  • Middlebury College, B.A., cum laude, 1976

BAR & COURT ADMISSIONS

  • Maine

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
 

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.

Before joining the firm, Bruce served as clerk to U.S. District Court Judge Gene Carter.


AWARDS

  • Education Law Lawyer of the Year, Portland, ME (Awarded by Best Lawyers) (2017)
  • Best Lawyers USA, Education Law (2008-2016)
  • Martindale Hubbell, BV Distinguished

PUBLICATIONS

  • Editor, Maine School Law, 5th Edition (2014)

NEWS

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ARTICLES

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PRESENTATIONS

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