From Army Ranger to Relentless Trial Lawyer
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What challenges did Cloyd Smith face after leaving the military?
I think the Army has a way of putting you in tough situations. It's going to knock out the imperfections, it's going to knock out the impurities, and it's just going to make you stronger, or it's going to break you. So you have the choice.
Cloyd Smith is a trial attorney, military veteran, and the founder of Smith Trial Law. Drawing from more than two decades of military leadership and combat experience, he fights relentlessly for his clients, helping them navigate life's toughest battles with courage, resilience, and unwavering advocacy.
Being a lawyer is similar to leading because you're trying to inform people and you're trying to get them to lead them in a direction, right? What I used to impart on my leaders is to leave their guys with this indomitable spirit to fight and win no matter what. But I'm working now not on just being a better trial lawyer every day, but also building the firm and getting it to where I want it to be. It spans the globe like a super high school internet. Elvis, ready? Today, Apple is going to reinvent the phone. It's not over until I win. The Living Your Legacy podcast. For those who live to leave a legacy.
That's extraordinary. The impossible. Oh, that is sensational. Open. Chicago was the lead. You said Paul is the fastest man on the planet.
Welcome to another episode of the Living Your Legacy podcast for Inside Success. I am Ray Gutierrez. I am Ray Gutierrez. Wow, it's Monday. Joining me today is Cloyd Smith.
How did Cloyd's military experience shape his law practice?
And Cloyd Smith, he jumps for, at one point in his life, he was jumping from planes and now he's jumping into courtrooms. Am I correct? That's correct. Are you jumping through and crashing through the roof of these courtrooms? No, usually through the front door. Because this is the way you climbed into our studios, through the roof.
You noticed that?
Yeah, Kofi has photos.
The door is locked.
Well, Kofi's got photos of this.
So how are you? So happy Monday. Happy Monday. It's good to be down here. It's a lot warmer here than it is in Virginia right now.
It's freezing. Our Studio 2 partner in crime, she went to a concert and it's negative four in Michigan. Oh, yeah. Awesome. Anything for music. Well, anything to hear your story, my friend. You are moments away from filming your episode for Operation CEO. What do you think or what will we learn about you in your episode?
Well, I think the thing that just going through the process and thinking through everything is... What I used to impart on my leaders is to leave their guys with this indomitable spirit to fight and win no matter what. Yeah. And so... I thought I was living that ethos, to be honest, for most of my life. And then when I left the military, I stopped living it. And I let some hard times get me down. And then I thought, man, am I a fraud all that time? So I went through some trials and tribulations. And I think you'll learn, you know, I probably went through a little bit more than most. I had three life experiences. threatening surgeries that lasted, you know, I got life flighted to Children's Hospital a couple of times, got shot in the eye with a BB gun, all these things to stop me from doing what my dream was, which was always to be, always jump out of airplanes and shoot bad guys in the face.
Then I almost didn't get it. And I had to try hard, had to try a different route, tried to enlist, the army wouldn't take me. I always tell my enlisted soldiers this and they get a kick out of it. I wasn't good enough to be enlisted, but I was good enough to become an officer. So I went into the Army that way. And then, you know, I think the Army has a way of putting you in tough situations. And you can either fold under that toughness or, you know, you get stronger. and so i would always tell my men you know your character is defined at your low points yes sir uh not not your high points just like a you know a blacksmith with with a piece of iron is hammering away at that it's going to knock out the imperfections it's going to knock out the impurities and it's just going to make you stronger yes sir or it's going to break you so you have the choice and uh so so i'd always tell them you know learn from your mistakes and if you own them you can fix them
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Chapters
8 chapters
1
What challenges did Cloyd Smith face after leaving the military?
0:00–1:30
2
How did Cloyd's military experience shape his law practice?
1:30–5:34
3
What lessons about resilience does Cloyd share from his journey?
5:34–8:48
4
How does Cloyd define true leadership in tough times?
8:48–11:13
5
What similarities exist between trial law and military leadership?
11:13–15:09
6
How does Cloyd maintain motivation and purpose in his work?
15:09–20:00
7
What strategies does Cloyd use to prepare for trials?
20:00–25:12
8
What advice does Cloyd give for aspiring trial lawyers?
25:12–28:35