About Us

Started in 1975 with the publication of the still-successful The Tennessee Journal, M. Lee Smith Publishers today offers more than 75 nationally-acclaimed newsletters, videos, software, books, and directories to attorneys, human resources professionals, and other business executives.

To provide the most authoritative and timely information to these communities, our 50 state-specific law letters and compliance updates are edited by many of the nation's largest and most prestigious law firms. And our videos, software, and other products for human resources professionals are created in partnership with some of America's leading experts.

M. Lee Smith Publishers continues to serve Tennessee’s legal community by offering the state’s best-known and most useful legal directories, newsletters, and legislation tracking services.

Interest in politics leads to publishing. A graduate of Vanderbilt University Law School, M. Lee Smith clerked for federal judge William E. Miller before serving as legislative assistant to U.S. Sen. Howard Baker (R-TN). After involvement in the successful Tennessee gubernatorial campaign of Winfield Dunn, Smith spent four years as the governor’s executive assistant. In 1975 he turned his interest in politics and the law to publishing.

Smith’s first subscription newsletter was The Tennessee Journal, a weekly insiders guide to Tennessee government, politics, and business. The Journal provides the state’s most influential politicians and business leaders with decision-making intelligence.

Then came Tennessee Attorneys Memo, the weekly summary of Tennessee appellate court decisions, followed by other directories, manuals, and newsletters for the legal community.

In the mid-eighties, Smith recognized the increasing impact of state legislatures and courts on how businesses operate. To help corporate executives comply with rapid changes in state law, he began teaming with some of the nation’s most prestigious law firms. Together, they created state-specific subscription newsletters, manuals, guidebooks, and electronic products.

For each publication, the law firm provides the editorial component while M. Lee Smith Publishers executes layout, printing, mailing, marketing, and all related business functions.

In 2005, newsletter executive Dan Oswald purchased M. Lee Smith Publishers LLC. Mr. Oswald has held executive management positions at Aspen Publishing and Ragan Communications. He is committed to maintaining the high standards of quality and integrity that have defined the company since its founding.