Fort Lauderdale, FL – Alison F. Smith, attorney at Weiss Serota Helfman Cole & Bierman, was named President-Elect of the Broward County Bar Association (BCBA). On July 2, 2021, Smith will officially be sworn in, becoming the first woman of color in the organization’s 95-year history to be elected to this position. And in 2022, when Smith will automatically ascend to the presidency of BCBA and be the first woman of color to serve as the organization’s president.
“I’m beyond excited and consider it to be a privilege and an honor to represent the BCBA,” said Smith. “As the first woman of color to hold this position in our organization’s history, I take this position with the utmost seriousness and am humbled to lead BCBA.”
Smith will oversee an organization that is approaching 4,000 members, consisting of 19 Practice Sections and 19 Committees, as well as three affiliate organizations: Association of South Florida Mediators and Arbitrators, Collaborative Family Law Professionals of South Florida and North Dade Bar Association.
“Broward County lawyers will be well served by the commitment and passion that Alison brings to BCBA leadership,” said Mitch Burnstein, Firm Managing Director. “Those of us who work with her see that same level of commitment and passion with her clients.”
Within BCBA, Smith has previously served as Chairperson of the Government Law Section, Co-Chairperson of the Bench and Bar Convention, and Secretary and Treasurer on the Executive Committee. She has also developed Ignite Your Passion, a BCBA program in partnership with Broward College. The program focuses on exposing minority students to professionals in an effort to provide guidance, support and encouragement.
“Alison Smith is a smart, thoughtful and energetic leader who understands the business and service aspect of the balance that a Bar Association has to manage,” said Braulio Rosa, Executive Director, BCBA. “I have known Alison for almost a decade and always have enjoyed working with her to develop good services and products for the BCBA and those we serve.”
Smith currently serves on the membership committee for the Board of Governors of the Shepard Broad College of Law at Nova Southeastern University. Additionally, she is a past president of the Caribbean Bar Association and past chair of the Board of Directors for Legal Aid Service of Broward County and Coast-to-Coast Legal Aid.
Smith graduated magna cum laude from Nova Southeastern University’s Shepard Broad College of Law and earned a B.S. in Psychology with a minor in Legal Studies from Nova Southeastern University.
