About J. Westwood Smithers
J. Westwood Smithers III prefers clear thinking over flourish. He builds cases the old-fashioned way: careful fact-gathering, steady preparation and a readiness to argue when necessary. Colleagues describe him as deliberate and precise. Clients have relied on that steadiness in disputes that required sustained courtroom presence.
Smithers began his formal training at Randolph-Macon College. He went on to earn his law degree from the University of Richmond School of Law. Those classrooms supplied the legal foundations he uses today — statutory interpretation, courtroom procedure and client counseling. The combination of a liberal arts undergraduate education and professional legal training helped shape his approach to practice.
His career has been anchored in Virginia courts. Over the years he has taken part in civil litigation at various levels of the state system and appeared in jury trials. He has remained active in local and national professional groups. Memberships include the American Association for Justice, the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association, the Richmond Bar Association, the American Bar Association and the Lewis F. Powell, Jr. American Inn of Court. He is also listed among the Virginia Business Legal Elite.
Smithers’s work leans toward litigation and trial advocacy. He prepares pretrial motions, conducts depositions and presents evidence in court. He spends much of his time researching legal precedent and crafting trial strategies. Peers note his patience in building a record and his willingness to press a case through trial rather than resolve it prematurely.
At Marks & Harrison he practices with other litigators who handle a range of civil matters in Virginia. The firm setting provides access to resources for expert witnesses and trial support. Smithers divides his time between client meetings, courtroom preparation and appearances before judges and juries. He also takes part in continuing legal education and contributes to local bar programs when schedules permit.
Outside the courtroom, he participates in bar association activities that keep him current on changes in procedure and evidence law. That involvement informs his courtroom work and his counseling of clients. He maintains his Virginia license and accepts cases that require tried-and-true litigation skills.
He currently practices civil litigation and trial advocacy in Virginia courts.
