One to Watch: Kad Smith ’25
Soon-to-be “Double Don” Kad Smith, BA ’13, JD ’25, traces his early passion for law, in part, back to watching a special on Johnny Cochran with his grandmother. Raised in Berkeley, Smith is now turning that childhood dream into reality as a dynamic student leader at USF Law.
He has been active in numerous student organizations and programs, including serving as a Student Bar Association rep, a criminal law and civil procedure tutor, an Advanced Moot Court case counsel, and participating in the Intensive Advocacy Program. Smith’s dedication and excellence have earned him multiple awards and scholarships, including the Crim Law CALI Award, the Agnes O’Brien Smith Scholarship, the Paul W. Vapnek ’64 Ethics Scholarship, and a California ChangeLawyers Scholarship. Despite a demanding law school schedule, Smith remains deeply connected to his community. He serves on Berkeley’s Reparations Task Force and is working with the Berkeley Unified School District and the school board on a reparations plan aimed at addressing the legacy of chattel slavery. For these achievements and more, Smith is our 2024 One to Watch.
Who or what most influenced your path to law school?
From the criminal justice system to family law, employment issues, and even dealing with landlords, I’ve witnessed so many people I love and respect be impacted by these systems. I saw that a lack of legal literacy and proximity to legal resources exacerbated already unfortunate circumstances in their lives. Moreover, the moment my son was born was when I truly committed to going to law school. Looking into his eyes, and seeing how beautiful he was, I realized how much I wanted him to respect the man I am and the man I hope to be.
What has been one of your most memorable experiences so far at USF?
Hands down the jury trial I did in the Intensive Advocacy Program (IAP). I felt like I had found my groove. It felt good having several real judges on the bench, along with members of the jury, confirm that feeling. I loved everything about IAP. Shout-outs to Doris Cheng and Elinor Leary.
Which class has challenged you the most?
Conceptually, I think it would have to be Property. There is just so much to cover and so many intricacies to be mindful of when doing substantial analysis. In terms of challenging me the most in a way that got me thinking most critically, definitely Con Law. Professor Julie Nice might be the most thought-provoking professor I have ever had.
What was the highlight of your work with one or more student organizations?
I have to give the nod to Street Law. Bringing back a program that had been off-campus for a number of years felt like a major win for the USF Law community. Also, I still have family living on the margins. Even I sometimes feel one bad week away from being back on the margins. So I think working with an organization that understands the importance of legal education for people living close to or on the margins, in several shapes and forms, has been tremendously rewarding.
What advice would you give new law students?
Have fun with the time. Law school is a tremendous stretch of our lives where we get to experience personal and professional growth. I think students should be encouraged to enjoy the growth process, instead of just stressing over it.
