The Louis and Karen Smith Family Law School Endowment for the Collection of the Legal Publications of the State of Michigan was established in 1999 by Lou and his wife, Karen Emens Smith. Lou is president of Smith & Johnson Attorneys, P.C. At Notre Dame he is a member of the Law School Advisory Council, the Edward Frederick Sorin Society, and the Order of St. Thomas More. Lou and Karen are Notre Dame parents of Timothy (’89, ’92 JD), Patrick (’90, ’95 MBA), and Elizabeth Palmer (’95).

This Endowment supports the continuous acquisition of Michigan primary legal materials and a strong collection of textual commentary, enabling a perpetual commitment to the study of Michigan’s important legal system. Due to geography, Notre Dame attracts many students from Michigan, and thus requires strong collections in its state laws. Print purchases have recently included important Michigan monographic works in the areas of bankruptcy, family law, international business, and Michigan legislation.