Professional Biography

William A. Smith, LCSW is an Atlanta-based forensic mental health evaluator, litigation and trial consultant, mediator, and psychotherapist. His work focuses on the intersection of psychiatry, law, and complex human behavior, assisting attorneys, courts, and clients in understanding how mental health factors influence legal cases.

Mr. Smith earned his Bachelor’s degree in Clinical Social Work from the University of Georgia and his Master’s degree in Clinical Social Work from the University of Washington, one of the top-ranked clinical programs in the United States. Both programs included specialized coursework and training in forensic mental health. He has also received additional training through the American Society of Trial Consultants, further strengthening his ability to work alongside legal teams in litigation and trial preparation.

As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and Board Certified Forensic Mental Health Evaluator (BCFMHE), Mr. Smith is qualified to diagnose a wide range of psychiatric conditions and provide court-admissible mental health opinions. He serves as lead evaluator and consultant for forensic matters, frequently assisting attorneys with evaluations, litigation strategy, and expert consultation.

Mr. Smith’s clinical background is heavily grounded in psychiatric assessment and diagnosis. Earlier in his career, he worked in high-acuity psychiatric settings under the supervision of psychiatrists, where he conducted diagnostic evaluations involving mood disorders, trauma-related conditions, substance use disorders, psychotic disorders, and complex behavioral presentations. His work included psychiatric assessment roles at Emory Hospital as well as a large metro-Atlanta public mental health clinic, where he evaluated individuals experiencing severe mental illness, crisis presentations, and complicated psychosocial circumstances.

Through this work, Mr. Smith developed significant expertise in differential diagnosis, risk assessment, and treatment planning within intensive psychiatric environments. Over the course of his career, he has completed thousands of mental health evaluations across clinical, forensic, and court-related contexts.

Since 2019, Mr. Smith has worked full-time in private practice, specializing in cases that involve trauma, PTSD, family systems issues, and forensic mental health. His practice frequently intersects with legal matters involving criminal defense, family law, immigration, disability, and civil litigation. He regularly provides litigation consulting, expert opinions, and forensic evaluations designed to assist attorneys in understanding the psychological context of a case.

Mr. Smith frequently participates in depositions, provides expert testimony when appropriate, and assists legal teams with record review, case conceptualization, and the development of mitigation or treatment recommendations. He routinely educates attorneys and courts on the role of mental health in legal proceedings and how psychiatric conditions may influence behavior, decision-making, risk, and rehabilitation potential.

He continues to pursue specialized forensic training and has completed post-graduate training in areas including family law, criminal mitigation, immigration evaluations, child custody evaluations, disability evaluations, and mediation.

In addition to his forensic work, Mr. Smith serves as Clinical Director for several Atlanta-area practices, including Greater Atlanta Family Counseling, Athens Family Counseling, the Atlanta Center for EMDR, and the Atlanta Marriage and Mediation Clinic. He also serves as a graduate practicum instructor for universities such as Northwestern University, the University of Georgia, Louisiana State University, Georgia State University, and the University of Southern California, where he trains master’s and doctoral-level students in psychopathology, clinical assessment, and case conceptualization.

Mr. Smith is known for his ability to translate complex psychiatric concepts into clear, practical information that is useful for attorneys, courts, and decision-makers. His combined experience in intensive psychiatric settings and legal consultation allows him to provide evaluations and opinions that are clinically sound, legally informed, and directly relevant to the needs of the court.

Mr. Smith sees clients face-to-face regularly in Marietta and Decatur, and by appointment in Gwinnett. He is typically able to be hired in a virtual capacity across Georgia. He is often accompanied by his chocolate Labrador, Sunny, who joins sessions when invited.