R. Michael Smith graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Cincinnati in 1982. He then attended The Ohio State University College of Law, where, after serving on the Law Journal and winning the Judge Joseph Harter Award for Trial Advocacy, he graduated in 1985. Mike then served as a law clerk/administrative aid to Ohio Supreme Court Justice Robert E. Holmes. Afterward, he served as Referee (magistrate) and Editor for the Court at the Ohio Court of Claims. Later, he also earned a Master of Divinity degree from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Upon entering private practice in 1994, Mike’s practice included appeals, trials, general business and criminal representation and bankruptcy. He has tried cases, argued cases before the Court of Appeals, and drafted appeals for other attorneys. In addition to admission to the Courts of Ohio, he is also admitted to practice in: Federal District Court, Southern District of Ohio; Federal Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of Ohio; and United States Supreme Court