Judge Philip E. Smith graduated from the University of Tennessee College of Law in May of 1988.  In October of 1988, Judge Smith went to work for the Office of the District Attorney General for the Twentieth Judicial District working in the Child Support Enforcement Division.  In September 1990, Judge Smith joined the Norman Law Offices and remained there until March of 2001.  In March 2001, Judge Smith, along with Phillip Robinson and Teresa Webb Oglesby began their own law practice.

            Judge Smith’s practice consisted of mainly family law matters, including divorce, child support matters, custody and visitation matters, antenuptial agreements, post-nuptial agreements, grandparent visitation cases and domestic mediation.

            In 2008, Judge Smith was inducted as a “Fellow” in the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers.  The American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers is an organization made up of the finest divorce lawyers in the United States.  In 2007 and 2008, Judge Smith was listed in “Best Lawyers in America” in the Family Law category.  In 2008, “Mid-South Super Lawyers” listed Judge Smith, along with 24 other lawyers from the Mid-South (Arkansas, Mississippi and Tennessee) as a “Super Lawyer” in the Family Law category.

            In January 2009, Judge Smith became board certified as a Family Law Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. 

            On March 18, 2009, Judge Smith was appointed as Judge of the Fourth Circuit Court of Davidson County, Tennessee, to succeed Judge Muriel Robinson.