Barbara Smith
About Barbara Smith
Barbara Smith is a Legal Practice Assistant at King & Spalding in Washington, D.C., where she has worked since 2015. She has extensive experience in legal support roles, having previously held positions at notable firms such as Kirkland & Ellis and Crowell & Moring LLP.
Work at King & Spalding
Barbara Smith has been employed at King & Spalding as a Legal Practice Assistant since 2015. In this role, she contacts timekeepers to obtain detailed descriptions and reminds them of client guidelines. Her responsibilities include reviewing multimillion-dollar invoices each month for proper content, allocation, and approval. She also acts as a liaison with clients and external contacts to ensure productive outcomes for any issues that arise.
Previous Experience in Legal Support
Prior to her current position, Barbara Smith worked at several prestigious law firms. She served as a Legal Secretary at Kirkland & Ellis from 2006 to 2015. Before that, she was employed at Crowell & Moring LLP as a Legal Secretary/Document Production Specialist from 1998 to 2003. Her early career included a role as a Confidential Secretary/Office Administrator II at The Boeing Company from 1996 to 1997 and as a Secretary at DELOITTE & TOUCHE USA, LLP from 1997 to 1998.
Education and Qualifications
Barbara Smith completed her education at Bladensburg High School, where she studied General Studies and earned her High School Diploma from 1978 to 1981. This foundational education has supported her extensive career in legal support roles across various firms.
Skills and Contributions
Throughout her career, Barbara Smith has developed systems to organize and retrieve backup materials for monthly invoices, which has expedited client review and improved payment processes. She resolves billing issues by advising on resubmittal or writing off charges when appropriate, showcasing her problem-solving skills and attention to detail.