J. Bradley Smith is a Charlotte native who graduated from Charlotte Country School in 1996. Thereafter, he attended and graduated from North Carolina State University with a degree in Political Science. After his undergraduate studies, he attended the Walter F. George School of law at Mercer University, obtaining his JD in 2004.

After obtaining his license to practice in law in August of 2004, Mr. Smith joined the Mecklenburg County District Attorney’s Office where over the course of nearly two years he prosecuted a variety of different misdemeanor and felony cases. While serving as an Assistant District Attorney, Mr. Smith attended and graduated from the Trial Advocacy Program at the National Advocacy Center in Columbia, SC.

In 2006, Mr. Smith entered private practice and for the last 15 years he has fought for individuals charged with crimes in both State and Federal Courts across North Carolina. He has also had the honor of arguing cases in front of the North Carolina Court of Appeals, the North Carolina Supreme Court, and the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond Virginia. Mr. Smith also frequently represents individuals in front of state administrative agencies. In developing an extensive criminal law practice and co-founding the law firm of Arnold & Smith PLLC, Mr. Smith has handled all types of state and federal criminal charges, including but not limited to murder, sex crimes, drug offenses, computer fraud, money laundering, wire fraud, tax fraud, conspiracy, financial crimes, embezzlement, assault, domestic violence offenses and DWI.  He also has extensive experience representing students, and teachers at schools and universities for sexual misconduct or Title IX violations.   

Mr. Smith also focuses his practice on Civil Rights cases. He has represented many plaintiffs including a North Carolina District Court Judge who have been injured by the negligent or intentional conduct of a law-enforcement officer, a government entity, or the employee of a government.

Mr. Smith has had several high-profile cases that have appeared in the news and he is frequently called upon by the medial to provide insight for topics pertaining to the criminal justice system in North Carolina. He has spoken at the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center and is a popular lecturer to various civic groups and area organizations.

He has been a member of the North Carolina Advocates for Justice for many years. He has served on the legislative committee and in 2019 was appointed to the Board of Governors.