Stephen Smith has been a trial lawyer for more than 17 years with a statewide practice in criminal defense, personal injury and family law. He founded Smith Law Offices 15 years ago in Bangor, Maine, and since then he has represented thousands of clients statewide. Steve has been lead counsel in over 100 serious jury trials. Admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court, the First Circuit Court of Appeals and federal and state courts, Stephen has also been a longtime member of the Bar of the Penobscot and Passamaquoddy Tribal Courts and once acted as the Penobscot Tribe’s child protective attorney general.Steve was lead counsel for the defense in only the second federal prosecution in the United States for the importation of whale tusks of the rare Narwhal whale. As a father of four children, Steve understands the issues confronting the families of today and he practices family law from the perspective that children need to be sheltered from the conflict inherent in divorce and separation. As a business owner and developer of real estate and restaurants, After beginning as an infantryman in the 3rd Ranger Battalion he served as a machine gunner in Desert Storm. After leaving active service, he joined the Maine Army National Guard where he served as a sniper team leader in the Mountain Infantry. Following his infantry service as an NCO, Steve became one of the first direct commissioned officers in the Guard, beginning his career as an officer as an engineer platoon leader. Shortly after graduating law school, he was direct commissioned as a Judge Advocate General officer. Following the attacks of 9/11, Steve was asked to serve in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan as a military prosecutor. Steve retired from the army after 21 years of service. His legal expertise and long association with the military has made him an expert resource for other attorneys in issues pertaining to military divorces and pensions.