Leonard Paul Smith

Leonard P. Smith was born in March 1947 in Highland Park, Michigan. He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan in 1969 and went on to receive his J.D. from the Detroit College of Law. He was admitted to the State Bar of Michigan in 1973 and served as an assistant prosecutor in the Oakland County Prosecuting Attorney's office before his career carried him west.

In 1974, Leonard relocated to Las Vegas and joined the State Bar of Nevada that same year, beginning a legal career in the state that would span 51 years. In 1976 he co-founded the law practice of Smith & Maurer with Richard Maurer, and the two practiced together for decades. After Maurer departed to become the City Attorney for North Las Vegas, Leonard continued as a solo practitioner for the remainder of his career.

Among the highlights of his long service to Nevada, Leonard served as the attorney for the unincorporated Town of Pahrump for more than 13 years. He remained a dedicated member of the Nevada legal community throughout his life, practicing law in the state for more than five decades.