A passion for helping people shines through Ben Smith’s work at SALA. He thrives
on the personal connections he forms with clients, helping them navigate the often
overwhelming experience of family law litigation. His enthusiasm for working with
student interns is one of the many highlights of his time at SALA. He finds great
satisfaction in answering their questions, often leading him to gain new insights into
the legal and human aspects of the cases he handles.

A dedicated volunteer with us for 17 years, Ben has contributed thousands of hours
to family law cases. He has completed an astounding 1,811 clinics, contributing more
than 5,000 hours of pro bono service and assisting 9,103 clients.

Born in Boston in 1947, Ben and his family moved to Tucson in 1952, where his
father, an archaeologist, continued his work in Northern Arizona, while his mother
worked with the University of Arizona as a paleobotanist. His upbringing was steeped
in both law and academia, with his father initially trained as a lawyer. Ben didn’t
originally pursue law, opting instead to study philosophy at Johns Hopkins University
before enrolling at the UA to study law. After taking a break, he returned to earn a law
degree in 2001.

In his personal life, Ben enjoys reflecting on his rich family history and indulging in
his love for blues music, particularly Samuel John “Lightnin’” Hopkins, an American
country blues singer, songwriter, and guitarist. Ben also is an aficionado of history,
especially the development of railroads in America during the second half of the
19th century, a story that involves technology, finance, scams and frauds, social
and cultural history, and lawyers (including Abraham Lincoln, who represented many
railroad corporate clients).

In Ben’s honor, we applaud the students — both undergrad and law students — who
assist our volunteer lawyers. Ben is known for his enthusiasm for working with our
student interns. He always takes time to talk about the law, cases, and their interests
— all with joy and a smile.