REAL NEWS: A citizen of Antigua and Barbuda, William “Trey” Smith III, of Cedar Valley, has made history as the first Antigua and Barbuda citizen to participate in a case before the Supreme Court of the United States.
Smith, 28, was part of a pro bono team of lawyers from the leading national firm Troutman Pepper, who represented James Rudisill, a decorated US Army veteran who had served three times between 2000 and 2011.
Oral arguments in the case, Rudisill v. McDonough, were heard on November 8.
Rudisill has claimed entitlement to educational benefits under two
separate veterans’ programmes.
However, the Department of Veterans Affairs – the federal agency
that administers veterans’ benefits – took the position that the
applicable statutes require Rudisill to forfeit a significant portion of
his benefits.
More than a million veterans like Rudisill are affected by the
Department’s position, and billions of dollars’ worth of education
benefits are at stake.
Reportedly, the Court – the highest in the United States – appeared
ready to side with Rudisill, with Chief Justice Roberts referring to
the government’s position as a “raw deal” for veterans.
Smith, who was called to the Virginia bar last year, became involved
with the case during his first weeks practicing law.
“I got involved … last year, when the case was before the Court of
Appeals for the Federal Circuit,” Smith says. “My mentor, Tim
McHugh, asked me if I wanted to help him prepare for arguments in
an upcoming case. I had no idea we would end up before the
Supreme Court a year later!” he adds.
Smith tells the media “it was surreal and humbling to sit before the
justices and watch them interact with our arguments.” He adds that
he is “incredibly blessed to learn from [his] talented, hard-working
colleagues” who led the litigation effort on Rudisill’s behalf.
“My favourite part of this case was getting to know Mr. Rudisill, who
is not only entitled to his benefits under law, but is also incredibly
deserving of them,” the young attorney says.
In the meantime, he hopes the Supreme Court will issue a decision
in the coming months.
Smith is the son of William Smith and Marie-Elena John, who,
herself, made history in 1986 by being the first black female
valedictorian of City College in the City University of New York
system.
Young Smith graduated from the University of Virginia with a
Bachelor’s degree in politics in 2018, and from Washington and Lee
School of Law in 2021. He now practices regulatory law at
Troutman Pepper.
In his earlier years he was a student of the St. Andrews Primary
School, St. Joseph’s Academy, and Island Academy.
He represented Antigua as a swimmer at the Commonwealth Youth
Games and then captained the swim team at Connecticut’s Kent
School – where he completed high school – to a regional
championship during his senior year.
REAL News congratulates Smith and his family on his achievement.
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Congratulations. I have never been before the US Supreme Court. Keep doing your thing, standing up for justice.
Please let us know the result of this Administrative Law issue with the department of veterans affairs. You are mostlikely to win, it is typical in these types of cases. It is like the government agencies usually and willfully pick the wrong decisions constantly. Trust me I know this.
Young Mr. Smith is expected to have a stellar career.
He has hit all the right notes. A champion swimmer, The Kent School, UVA undergrad and William and Lee Law; and now with the Beltway law firm Troutman Pepper preparing a case hat has been presented to the US Supreme Court at a very young age. You can’t get much better than that.
Good luck young man; you obviously have been working hard and making the right decisions.
Good to hear this, but better when we sign up to the CCJ .
this is evidence that we who have completed law studies (Advance degree in law, Jurisdictorate, we must have a Bachelor’s degree before we can get our Juris Doctorate (JD))in the US should be allowed to practice law immediately in Antigua and Barbuda without having to go to Jamaica for a one year course that is already built into our studies that are more advanced. even requiring us to follow a local attorney for 3 months I would accept but course is required. The jurisdiction needs course from us. and I say that humbly, attorneys in Antigua only required to have a Bachelor’s Degree in law and a 1 year course. our Bachelor’s degree in law does not allow you to practice law at all. you must then get the 3 year advance degree called the Juris Doctorate after getting your bachelor’s.
I am petitioning you to change the law and allow us to practice law in Antigua without those unnecessary requirements. We can bring innovation and advancement in the field of law in Antigua and Barbuda. also bringing US clients with billions of US dollars.
please think big AG and other government officials.
Good points…..but you need to present it in a more articulate way (like someone with an actual J.D.). Your poor grammar and typos contradict your point that you have an “advanced” law degree. Presumably not in legal writing, I take it (or even writing in general)…..which is mandatory for first year law students in the US.
You know this is an online blog with me using a cellphone? Thank God the Bar Examiners do not grade for spelling and grammar, perhaps I would be one of them that fails according to your response. Ha ha ha ha ha ha.
Legal writing that was done in first year believe it or not, it seems you do not know this, has nothing at all to do with grammar and spelling.
It is basically about IRAC-ing. Learning to identify the issues, knowing the rule, analysizing it, and coming to a conclusion.
Literally nothing about perfect English grammar or spelling. So, I focus on what is most important. Issue, rule, analysis and conclusion.
@PFW…all I gotta say, #legalese is a language unto itself.
Its presentation is an #art, and #science, unto itself.
Language(s) for the most part are…
(i)…used to communicate, or convey a message scientifically, of course.
(ii)…sound waves to electrical impulses/vibrations to signs!
I find, individual(s) who are critical, of those of ‘Us’ who are not perfect, in the use of the english language, its idioms, phrases, letters, words, punctuations, etc. are considered, #lacking, in how our message(s) are conveyed.
“#Lest_We_Forget,” the english language does not even make the first Ten(10) languages written, much less spoken and even much, much lesser still written, and lest not even dare delve into communication(s) through, in, of, by the transcendence of #Time & #Space. The English Language does not even measure up; however, I do get the effort(s) to push and promote its effectiveness and efficiency, in how we as HUEmans is supposed to communicate. Its control through #INDOCTRINATIONS, by the Molders Of Society.
PFW – I could vibe on #Prisoners of Foreign Wars, as I recommend, that the Movie “The Gods Must Be Crazy,” a movie about communication(s), language(s), War of The Worlds, food for the Soul and says a whole lot, as to how cultures of HUEman nature are developed, indoctrinated and controlled.
No need to worry, just yet, about the English Language becoming extinct like Coptic, Hebrew, etc for the most part. However, Mandarin and Spanish are leading the English Language in terms, of how HUEmans are communicating. Yep, the Chinese have not only kept Mandarin alive, your United Nations have predicted Mandarin to be the number language in fifty years used by HUEmans! Believe or Not. There’s proof to this prediction, just look at how the Chinese are controlling, the hue man world economy.
So, what will folks like you do with all those perfect sentences? Shove eat or shred them?
Jumbee_Picknee aka Ras Smood
De ‘ole Dutty Peg🦶🏿Garrat_Bastard
Vere C. Edwards
@PFW
You are in order. This is something that makes me often scratch my head when I read ‘ my way of helping’s posts. For someone trained in law and representing clients in court, good standard English should be a formal requirement, this includes spelling and grammar. The excuse of driving while typing is risible if not downright dangerous. Either way, there is someting called proof reading which is a must. Very few people indeed command perfect English, it’s a difficult task, but one who practises law should be at least more adept in their presentation.
I must sincere thank @Ras Smood for the response. I could not have said it any better with spelling and grammar.
I think the issue with my Antigua culture is that we love to look at the surface. Never the substance. It is like a woman looking at you and rejecting you because you are not wearing name brands and you look basic. Not knowing that same person without the name brand has much more substance (money) than those who pretend in their name brands to have money.
We have to learn to look much deeper and at the pith of things. It is why I get upset hearing people bashing folks in politics about their ability to read in a manner that literally has nothing to do with competence.
I will be the first to say I prefer any exam in law (criminal law, criminal procedure, tort, contracts, administrative law, remedies, civil procedures, property etcetera) over any English language exam.
If my job required me to write English as well as I IRAC, or as well as @PFW writes, I am confident that $40,000 to about $100,000usd I make a week, would not have existed.
I want to thank the US for this opportunity and I sincerely love you. I hope one day to teach Antiguans and Barbudans all I have learned in the US. Just like I am sharing all I have from the US with Antigua and Barbuda.
English is hard ha ha ha ha ha. Especially while typing and driving, and via cell phone typing. Ha ha ha ha ha.
I am still the dude that from memory will speak from the beginning of contract law or criminal law or tort or wills and trust or remedies to their end without using a book. Literally and this is not exaggeration. This is literal.
Yes, I memorize all laws and rules, not even sure how it happened but it sure did.
@my way of helping – Don’t know what law school you attended, but top-tier law school in the US typically require good writing to effectively communicate facts, opinions, analyses, etc. “IRAC” or “CRAC” is simply the way legal essays are arranged, particularly for the bar exam, as well as for legal briefs, etc. But my point was…..you seem to be promoting the idea that Juris Doctorates are more “advanced” in their legal skills, even as you are communicating your message in poor style. Good writing is one of the primary skill sets of an effective attorney.
@Ras Smood – I’m not debating the effectiveness of “perfect” English (or denigrating the efficacy of any other language [including sign language] or dialect, for that matter)…..just pointing out that anyone who promotes the idea that their law degree is more “advanced” than others should at least be able communicate that point better than the average Joe.
@PFW…I beg to differ. You are asserting, and “debating the effectiveness of “perfect” english,”😎as you chide Ny Way of Helping for not presenting his opinion here, on this forum, in “perfect” english, or “above the average Joe,” he’s more than likely, not to have achieved, acquired the certification or qualification(s) of a Juris Doctorate, of a particular standard.
So, @PFW one simple question, when choosing an attorney for any reason, should her/his track record of wins vs losses trump(you can consult Trump the first AI President), her/his presentation before the court(s)? Again, let’s consult the Teflon President of America, Donald Trump on this as well.
Personally, I’m taking wins vs losses over presentation.
As a kid, I love a good mystery, detective story, so, I watched lots of Perry Mason and Columbo.
These two detectives had entirely different techniques, styles of solving crimes, and presenting their case(s) before the court(s), yet, they were both very successful at their #craft! I know, they were scripted to fit, match a particular purpose, but still you can understand the point.
Perfection unto itself is useless, since, for perfection to be “perfect,” it has to be finite, and as you are fully aware nothing is “perfect!”
Well, Artificial Intelligence has something to say about that.
Jumbee_Picknee aka Ras Smood
De ‘ole Dutty Peg🦶🏿Garrat_Bastard
Vere C. Edwards
@PFW
I HAVE NEVER IN MY LIFE HEARD OF ANY LAW SCHOOL, NONE OF THE TWO I ATTENDED (TRANSFERRED FROM ONE TO THE OTHER), AND DID LEGAL WRITING AT BOTH AND BOTH LEGAL WRITING CLASS IS MADE UP ONLY OF BRIEFING CASES.
I WILL SAY THIS BOLDLY, NO LEGAL WRITINV CLASS IN THE US GRADE OR TEACHES GRAMMER OR SPELLING. I AM WILLING TO BE ALL I HAVE.
I RE.EMNRR THIS, LAUGHIBG WHILE I TYPE THIS, BECAUSE MY FIRST YEAR IN LAW SCHOOL A ASKED THE PROFESSOR THE EXAM SAME THING AND HIS RESPONSE WAS NO.
YOU ALWAYS ASKED ABOUT THIS PRIOR TO BAR EXAMS, AND IT WAS ALWAYS NO, WE DO NOT GRADE ON GRAMMAR OR SPELLING.
SO I AM NOT SURE WHAT LAWSCHOOL YOU WENT TOO AMD WHAT BAR EXAM YOU TOOK BUT LET ME KNOW SO I STAY AWAY.
MY GRAMMAR MAY NOT BE THAT ADVANCED HA HA HA HA HA HA.
LEGAL WRITING IN LAW SCHOOL IS HOW TO BRIED A CASE, AND HOW TO ISSUE SPOT BASICALLY, NOTHING MORE.
DO NOT LET THE TITLE FOOL YOU LIKE IT DID ME PRIOR TO ATTENDING.
Also, it is the law in the US that any degree above the masters degree is considered an advance degree. So, any attorney from any country who only possess a Bachelors in law would not immediately qualify for something like national interest waiver. Without the additional 5 years of Progressive experience. While a masters degree and up in law, according to that US law would allow you to meet that advance degree requirement without having 5 or 10 years of Progressive experience.
So, I know it hurts hearing this, but it is the law and it obviously makes sense. Don’t kill the messenger who had over $1,000,000.00 in private student loan debt.
People need to accept the truth, the truth is that JD is an advance degree and the bachelors of law is not. The other truth is, English language is so hard and I am not expert on it as I am an expert in law. Driving and texting or not driving and texting.
@my way of helping – My friend, for someone who boasts of his ability to discern issues, you have again missed the point. I never stated that law schools teach “grammer(sic) or spelling”. I stated that top US law schools “require good writing” skills. In fact, I can categorically state that no top US law school will ever admit anyone who lacks such basic skills. Many law students in the US, particularly in their first year, apply to become members of various law journals, including Law Review. These slots are very competitive and upon acceptance, students use these forums to highlight their writing skills, which is a huge bonus to land jobs at major white collar law firms.
In case it’s not yet obvious, I am a lawyer holding a Doctor of Jurisprudence (JD) degree from a prestigious US law school. I have been a lawyer for almost 30 years, representing large global corporations. However, I do not disparage the legal expertise of other foreign-trained lawyers who may hold a Bachelor of Laws degree from other countries. In my line of practice, I negotiate regularly with lawyers from across the globe – from the UK to China, and countries in between – and most are sophisticated legal practitioners. Their corporate clients require only the best legal talent.
One last observation – you claim to have graduated with over $1 Million Dollars in student loan debt. Such a statement appears ludicrous on its face, especially considering that the most expensive law school in the US (Columbia University Law School) currently charges tuition of less than $75k annually. That means that for the three years of law school, the law graduate will have spent less than $225k on tuition. Assuming the student also pays for housing and other expenses, and receives no financial aid at all (which would be very rare, especially for a student who is not independently wealthy or has no wealthy parents), the total cost would still fall well under $500k for the cost of attending law school. Your claim therefore starkly undercuts your credibility, in my opinion.
By the way, the young man who is the subject of this article deserves our congrats. May he have a stellar legal career!
Since you stated you are a US base attorney, I would assume you know under NIW (US law) that a bachelors degree in law with and without the the US is considered to not be an advanced degree.
Most if not all attorneys in corporate law would readily know this because it is a vital tool in Business Law, immigration law, etcetera.
So, I am not comprehending your confusion about me stating a US law.
Sir, I went to the US as an international student. I did not get not one government loan or grant. I got student loan for my B.A, student loan for my M.A and paid out of pocket for the JD.
One of my loan was for $20,000, got a letter from TERI student loans at the time stating that just that loan alone after repayment, I would have paid over $78,000.00 for that one student loan.
Imagine the about 10 private student loans and do the calculations. I guess your ivy league law school is not the same as the numerous ivy league law school I know and those which I attended.
Also, you would literally know the price of a US college. UNDERGRADUATE was hitting about $45,000 a year, books, housing and food not included. MASTERS was hitting over $65,000 a year, other expenses not included.
Law school, you do not want to know the price, so the fact your number is not close to a million, I am interested about learning what cheap ivy league you went top or you got scholarships or grants?
I had all private loans from TERI and AES, the education resource institute at the time and American Education Services. I want to thank my uncle for signing those private loans for me. Borrowed about $350,000 and repayment with interest if took the 25 years to pay would be over $1 million.
I do not think we went to law school in the same country. Everything you said is not I’m any US law school that I know of or attended ha ha ha ha ha.
I would have preferred your cheaper school, except for the perfect English part.
And look up NIW, see where the federal government under law categorize a LLB and a JD.
If you were an Attorney, in the US, you would know this. We all know this.
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