Jay Earl Smith

Jay Earl Smith was a prominent and well-respected member of the Las Vegas legal community. Born in 1953 in Salt Lake City, Utah, he earned his law degree from the University of Utah and was admitted to the State Bar of Nevada on September 29, 1981. He made Las Vegas his home for more than three decades, building his professional life there over the course of some 32 years.

Smith practiced law in Las Vegas throughout his career, and by 1984 he was associated with the firm of Jolley, Urga, & Wirth. Over the years he became known as a mentor to many younger attorneys, guiding and encouraging those coming up in the profession. He maintained a strong connection to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and its athletic community.

Jay Earl Smith died on February 6, 2012, in Las Vegas at the age of 58, after a hard-fought battle with cancer. He is remembered for his standing in the local bar and for the lasting influence he had on the colleagues he mentored.