Joy Smith-McCormick – Big Brothers Big Sisters of America

Big Brothers Big Sisters of America stands as one of the oldest and most respected youth mentoring organizations in the United States, dedicated to making a meaningful impact on the lives of children for over 120 years. At a critical juncture in the organization’s history, Joy Smith-McCormick has joined BBBSA as the lead counsel, bringing her unique blend of legal expertise, leadership, and a passion for service.

Joy Smith-McCormick | Big Brothers Big Sisters of America | Lead Counsel

As the sole attorney within the organization, she holds an instrumental position, overseeing all legal matters at the national level. With a new CEO focused on expanding the organization’s reach and reinvigorating its mentoring programs, Smith-McCormick’s role is crucial in ensuring the legal structure and strategies align with BBBSA’s broader goals.

“Ensuring our mission to empower children is at the heart of everything we do. In this transformative moment, I’m excited to help us navigate challenges and expand our reach, making a lasting difference in the lives of young people. Together, we can create a future where every child has the support they need to thrive,” Smith-McCormick says.

Safeguarding the organization’s mission and trust

Smith-McCormick’s responsibilities at BBBSA span a wide array of crucial functions. In addition to handling all legal concerns, from compliance to risk management, she supports BBBSA’s business units in launching marketing campaigns involving the organization’s marketing and public relations efforts.

One of her projects has been supporting the launch of marketing campaigns involving partnerships with celebrities and even the Super Bowl, driving awareness of the organization’s mission on a national scale. Her expertise ensures these initiatives are legally sound, protecting the brand while expanding its visibility.

Smith-McCormick has also been the architect behind the implementation of BBBSA’s contract management system. Her focus on streamlining processes through contract lifecycle management (CLM) has been essential in managing the complex agreements involved in partnerships, sponsorships, and fundraising efforts. By sourcing the right platform and overseeing its implementation, she has helped improve efficiency in contract negotiations, drafting, and monitoring.

A significant area of concern for nonprofit organizations like BBBSA is cybersecurity, privacy and data governance. She recognizes that while nonprofits are mission-driven, they must still protect sensitive data with the same rigor as for-profit companies. She also works closely with BBBSA’s IT team to ensure cybersecurity and data privacy compliance.

“Nonprofit organizations are prone to the same risks as for-profit organizations, so nonprofits must undergo the same risk assessments, risk management and compliance efforts as any other organization, whether it be Fortune 500 companies or governmental entities,” she explains.

Innovating legal practices

Smith-McCormick’s forward-thinking approach is particularly evident in her embrace of emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI). She understands that AI will be increasingly important in legal departments, especially for small teams like hers. By leveraging AI tools for legal research, contract management, and even risk assessment, she envisions a future where technology can help streamline operations, allowing her to focus more on strategic initiatives rather than routine tasks. AI, she believes, will help small legal teams serve their organizations more efficiently, ultimately enabling BBBSA to continue its mission to reach more children and volunteers, increase relevance through data-informed programs and to deploy more resources for Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies.

In addition to her legal expertise, Smith-McCormick values the importance of leadership, having lead departments responsible for Human Resources and program compliance.

As BBBSA adapts to the changing landscape of 2025 and beyond, Smith-McCormick is focused on ensuring that the legal frameworks and policies support these efforts. Whether through labor and employment practices or leadership development programs, her focus will continue to be ensuring that employees are well-positioned to recruit and retain the talent it needs to thrive.

A tireless advocate for systemic improvement, Smith-McCormick continues to make an indelible mark on BBBSA. Her dedication to the organization’s mission and her focus on leveraging technology and improving internal processes has positioned BBBSA to meet future challenges with confidence and resilience.

A lifelong passion for justice

Smith-McCormick’s passion for law stems from her desire to solve problems and seek justice. From a young age, she was driven by a concern for helping others and ensuring people received their needed support. This led her to pursue a bachelor’s degree in political science and government at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, followed by a JD/MA in Law and Planning from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Her career began in advocacy and lobbying with trade associations in Washington, D.C., where working alongside lawyers solidified her decision to become an attorney. She then transitioned into in-house roles, starting with the trial and appellate court systems and later representing county departments and the board of county commissioners, gaining valuable government law experience.

After time in private practice, Smith-McCormick returned to in-house work, focusing on replicating K-12 educational programs. This role further sharpened her expertise in law and policy. Eventually, she joined Big Brothers Big Sisters of America as lead counsel, where she now implements systems to drive improvements at the national level, contributing to the organization’s mission of empowering youth.

Outside of work, Smith-McCormick’s devotion to family remains central. Inspired by her grandmother, she takes great pride in her children’s success and has found a way to balance motherhood with her legal career, keeping service as her guiding principle.

“It always starts with me—what I value, where I focus my time, how I care for others and myself. But I always strive for my effort to end with having positively impacted someone or something else,” Smith-McCormick says.