Annie Smith, professor of law and director of the Civil Litigation & Advocacy and Human Trafficking clinics at the U of A School of Law, has been awarded the 2025 Equal Justice Distinguished Service Award presented jointly by the Arkansas Bar Foundation and the Arkansas Bar Association.

The award recognizes a commitment to participation in equal justice programs for low-income residents, including pro bono efforts through legal services programs.

"I feel incredibly honored by my colleagues' nomination and by the foundation's selection," Smith said. "There are many advocates in Arkansas dedicated to advancing justice, and I am grateful to be among them."

Smith's advocacy and scholarship focus on labor exploitation, including human trafficking. She and her students have represented numerous clients in forced labor and human trafficking, unpaid wage and other matters. She serves on the Arkansas Human Trafficking Council and as the co-chair of its Training Subcommittee.  

She has written on the subject of human trafficking and on the effects of mandatory arbitration agreements on vulnerable workers. She most recently contributed to the Federal Practice Manual for Legal Aid Attorneys published by the National Center for Law and Economic Justice. This year, her article "Dismissing Human Trafficking: Forced Arbitration of Survivors' Civil Suits" is forthcoming in the Villanova Law Review. Her articles have also been published in the Washington Law Review, South Carolina Law Review and New York University Review of Law and Social Change.

Smith has been interviewed by local, national and international media outlets. She regularly provides trainings and offers technical assistance, including to the Arkansas Law Enforcement Training Academy. She also serves as a chair of the Legal Aid of Arkansas Board of Directors, is a previous recipient of the Arkansas Bar Foundation's Best Legal Writing Award and the law school's Dean's Circle Faculty Award for Service. 

Dean Cynthia Nance said the award recognizes Smith's tireless advocacy. "Annie's service to the people of the state and to the profession is extensive and significant. We are very proud that she is a prominent leader in creating opportunities for access to justice for low-income Arkansans. She is most deserving of this award."