Bruce P. Smith (academic)

Bruce P. Smith is a noted legal historian and the 12th dean of the University of Illinois College of Law.

Education

Bruce Smith graduated from Williams College summa cum laude with highest honors in History. He later studied at Cambridge University as a Herchel Smith Fellow where he received B.A. and M.A. degrees in history. Bruce completed his studies as a Mellon Fellow at Yale University where he graduated with a Ph.D. in history and a J.D..

Career

Dr. Smith began his career at Covington & Burling in Washington, D.C.. In his five years at the firm, he practiced patent law, employment law, and sports law. Dr. Smith has represented the National Football League, National Basketball Association, and National Hockey League.

After practicing law, Dr. Smith joined the faculty at the University of Illinois College of Law and later became the Guy Raymond Jones Faculty Scholar and the Co-Director of the Illinois Legal History Program. He was selected as the 12th dean of the College in 2009.