PRESIDENT’ S MESSAGE
PRESIDENT’ S MESSAGE
Honoring Public Service: Spotlight on Unsung Legal Heroes
Guardian of Our Children: A Spotlight on Joshua Smith’ s Two Decades of Public Service
Joshua Smith, Esq. Managing Attorney, Children’ s Legal Services Florida Department of Children and Families
A continuing series by Jean Marie Middleton, Esq.- President
Dedication to Child Advocacy
Joshua Smith, Esq., serves as the Managing Attorney for the Palm Beach County Office of Children’ s Legal Services( CLS) within the Department of Children and Families. With a distinguished career spanning twenty years at CLS, Smith has established himself as a cornerstone of the local legal community and a dedicated advocate for vulnerable youth. His path to the law was deeply personal; inspired by his mother’ s career as a social worker, Smith recognized early on how law and social work could intersect to help people. Remarkably, before attending law school, he served the community as a DCF food stamp worker, providing him with a unique, ground-level perspective on the agency he now leads.
The Work of CLS Attorneys
In his current capacity, Smith manages a team of over 30 staff members, including attorneys, paralegals, and support personnel. While his role is primarily supervisory— focused on mentoring and helping young attorneys— he remains a fixture in the courtroom, frequently stepping in to fill in during proceedings. Smith defines the role of CLS as prosecutors for the state in civil actions when a child is removed or requires services, with the ultimate goal of providing parents with necessary resources to ensure the safe reunification of families.
Throughout his tenure, Smith has cultivated a specialized focus on legal issues related to independent living and youth aging out of care, ensuring these young individuals receive the protections necessary for a successful move into adulthood. His professional milestones include being a member of the first class of Board-Certified Specialists in Juvenile Law. Additionally, he was a founding member of Palm Beach County’ s Dependency Drug Court, now known as Family Treatment Court, which focuses on rehabilitating parents so they can be safely reunited with their children.
The daily reality of Smith ' s work involves a rigorous schedule of status hearings, trials in contested matters, and constant check-ins to track the progress of reunification. When asked how he has sustained this high-pressure career for two decades, Smith points to the tangible impact of his work: seeing families reunite and children thriving in better circumstances than when they first entered the system.
As Smith continues his vital work, he offers a call to action for the community, noting that there is an ongoing and urgent need for foster homes and Guardian Ad Litems to support children in the dependency system.
Beyond His Work
Smith balances his demanding career with a love for traveling and family time. He even has an adventurous side, having experienced the thrill of hang-gliding.
Joshua Smith’ s unwavering commitment to the children and families of Palm Beach County stands as a powerful reminder that meaningful change begins with one individual devoted to building a better future for every child.
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