Rachel Smith
D'Alesandro & Miliman, P A
Pasadena
3
Languages
22
years of professional experience
Experienced Legal Professional Returning to the Workforce for Opportunities in Government, Public Policy, Advocacy, and Teaching at the Post Secondary Level Authorized to work in the US for any employer
Work History
Stay at Home Parent
10 Years 11 Months- Supervised remote and in-person education for an elementary school student.
- Provided weekly, individualized instructional support to students involved in a school literacy remediation program.
- Pursued opportunities, accommodations, and support for a student, pursuant to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.
- Volunteered at school activities, events, and fundraisers.
- Led Brownie and Juniors levels of a Girl Scout Troop, planning and facilitating meetings, activities, travel, and fundraising.
Attorney
5 Years 3 Months- Developed strategies to resolve cases in clients' best interests.
- Counseled clients on their legal options.
- Negotiated settlements of disputes and litigation.
- Represented clients in civil and criminal cases, as well as administrative hearings.
Associate Attorney
3 Years 8 Months- Researched and interpreted laws, rulings, and regulations to advise clients about their options for legal recourse.
- Interviewed witnesses, gathered public records, and investigated and obtained other evidence for use in negotiations and at trial.
- Drafted pleadings, motions, petitions, and briefs for civil, criminal, administrative, and appellate cases.
- Represented clients in jury and court trials, administrative hearings, and appeals in various subject matters including, but not limited to: family law; domestic violence; criminal defense; post conviction; business transactions; personal injury; wills and estates; discrimination; and, police brutality.
- Served as Counsel for the Petitioner in Guidash v. Tome, 211 Md. App. 725, 66 A.3d 122 (2013), a reported decision on marital separation agreements and child support.
Attorney
2 Years 4 Months- Represented clients in civil and criminal litigation, as well as administrative hearings in a variety of subject matters, including, but not limited to: family law; domestic violence; criminal defense; business transactions; and post conviction.
Staff Attorney
2 Years 4 Months- Represented clients in protective and peace order hearings, as well as divorce, custody, and child support cases.
- Counseled clients about their legal options and safety planning.
Legislative Analyst
6 Months- Researched and drafted bills at the request of Members of the Maryland General Assembly for the Family Law, Criminal Law, Public Safety, and Transportation Articles of the Annotated Code of Maryland.
- Served as Counsel for the Anne Arundel County Delegation.
- Authored case note on changes to Maryland death penalty statutes and regulations.
- Updated portions of the Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR).
Assistant Public Defender
1 Year 4 Months- Represented incarcerated clients statewide in post conviction and parole revocation hearings.
- Counsel for Petitioner in Frazier v. State of Maryland (heard in the Circuit Court for Baltimore City) which garnered the immediate release of a wrongfully convicted man who had served 16 years in prison for rape. The basis for the release included: prosecutorial misconduct; ineffective assistance of counsel; and, a new presentation of DNA and scientific information.
Judicial Law Clerk
1 Year- Clerked for The Honorable Edward R.K. Hargadon.
- Prepared juvenile, civil trial, civil motions, and collateral dockets by researching legal precedents and drafting memoranda.
- Drafted post conviction and civil case opinions, including an unreported opinion in Gee v. Lucky Realty, et al. (Circuit Court for Baltimore City Case Number 24-C-02-000978), a contract, tort, fraud, and housing discrimination class action case.
- Reviewed foreclosure cases for compliance with Maryland law.
Education
Juris Doctor
Bachelor of Arts - Government and Politics, Communications, International Studies
Skills
Negotiation
Teaching
Advocacy
Writing
Client Counseling and Services
Teamwork and Collaboration
Problem Solving
Effective Communication
Creative Thinking
Active Listening
Decisionmaker
Relationship Building
Accomplishments
- Served as Counsel for the Petitioner in Guidash v. Tome, 211 Md. App. 725, 66 A.3d 122 (2013), a reported decision on marital separation agreements and child support.
- Counsel for Petitioner in Frazier v. State of Maryland (heard in the Circuit Court for Baltimore City) which garnered the immediate release of a wrongfully convicted man who had served 16 years in prison for rape. The basis for the release included: prosecutorial misconduct; ineffective assistance of counsel; and, a new presentation of DNA and scientific information.
Affiliations
Girl Scouts of Central Maryland
Languages
English
Full Professional
Spanish
Limited Working
French
Limited Working
Timeline
Stay at Home Parent
08.2015 - CurrentRead More
Attorney
07.2013 - 10.2018Read More
Associate Attorney
D'Alesandro & Miliman, P A
11.2009 - 07.2013Read More
Attorney
07.2007 - 11.2009Read More
Staff Attorney
Domestic Violence Center of Howard County
07.2007 - 11.2009Read More
Legislative Analyst
The Maryland General Assembly, Department of Legislative Services
12.2006 - 06.2007Read More
Assistant Public Defender
Maryland Office of the Public Defender
08.2005 - 12.2006Read More
Judicial Law Clerk
Circuit Court for Baltimore City
08.2004 - 08.2005Read More
University of Maryland-College Park
Bachelor of Arts from Government and Politics, Communications, International Studies
Read More
University of Maryland-Baltimore
Juris Doctor
Read More
Additional information
- Volunteered at Pasadena Elementary School, located in Pasadena, Maryland.
- Volunteered and worked on local, state, and national political campaigns.
- Volunteered at and later worked in the Salisbury, Maryland field office of United States Senator Paul S. Sarbanes.