Lady Smith was appointed as the first President of the Scottish Tribunals in July 2014.
She was appointed a Judge of the Scottish Supreme courts in 2001.
She was called to the Scottish Bar in 1980, when she was admitted to the Faculty of Advocates, and was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1993. She served as a Temporary Sheriff from 1995 to 1999, was Chair of the Scottish Partnership on Domestic Abuse from 1998 to 2000 and served as an Advocate Depute from 2000 until she was appointed a Judge. In November 2012, Lady Anne Smith was appointed to the Inner House of the Court of Session.
Lady Smith has carried out various duties as a judge, including serving as the Scottish Employment Appeal Tribunal judge for eight years between 2004 and 2012. She chairs the Scottish Tribunal Forum and the Reserved Tribunals Group.
Lady Smith currently chairs the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry in addition to performing her duties as President of Scottish Tribunals.