Pauline Lyle Smith

Pauline Lyle-Smith BA LLB (64-68)

After qualifying as a solicitor, Pauline Lyle-Smith practised law at Freehill, Hollingdale & Page for four years and then travelled to London where she introduced the DX system, having used the service as a lawyer in Sydney. As Director of BRITDOC, she established the unique system of document exchanges in the UK, Ireland and North America. She was instrumental in having the UK Post Office monopoly relaxed and the law changed to make service of documents “good service” under court rules. The system began with the legal and insurance sectors but now extends to a wide range of businesses and Government Departments. The DX is currently owned by Hays PLC and has an annual turnover of £250 million.

Pauline set up and edited the UK Chambers and Partners legal directory. This assesses and ranks the leading law firms, barristers’ chambers, solicitors and barristers across the UK and has become a brand leader in its field. She carried this knowledge forward to help publish “Legal Profiles” across Australia, and assisted in the establishment of leading legal magazines.

Pauline lives with her husband in London. She was recently elected President of the University of Sydney UK Alumni Association (USUKAA), as well as being a trustee of the University of Sydney Friends Trust. Details of the USUKAA are included elsewhere on this page. She is an officer of a number of voluntary and charitable organizations, and has been active in local politics in the US and the UK. She is qualified to practice law in NSW, England, Wales and New York State.