Michelle Dawn Smith

As a "Maryland Super Lawyer" with more than 30 years as a practicing litigator, Ms. Smith has the skills to help clients obtain their goals.  Ms. Smith has extensive litigation experience handling court and jury trials in nearly every type of case from complex homicides to contentious divorce and custody matters.  As a felony prosecutor in Anne Arundel County for 20+ years, Ms. Smith specialized in Famlily and Domestic Violence cases and developed a uniquely successful approach to litigation which combines legal knowledge, good judgment, negotiation skills and compassion.  

Ms. Smith focuses her practice exclusively on Family Law, representing clients in a wide range of counties in Maryland for cases involving, divorce, custody, child support and protective orders.  Ms. Smith appreciates the complex emotional and logistical stressors that come with such cases, and is able to provide sound legal advise and persuasive advocacy on behalf of her clients when they most need a strong voice. Ms. Smith understands the need for a balanced and compassionate approach to address the needs of her clients in these emotional circumstances.  She works diligently to assist clients in attaining their goals outside of litigation through well drafted agreements and orders; however, if litigation is required, she brings her extensive experience and skills to present a well-prepared and persuasive case.  

Governor Moore appointed Ms. Smith as a member of the Judicial Nominating Commission for District 7.  Ms. Smith is a member of the Maryland State Bar Association Family and Juvenile Law Section Council which directs Family Law policies and practices statewide and, Chair of the legislative subcommittee for several years, for which she regularly testifies on behalf of the Council before the House and Senate of the Maryland General Assembly on bills related to Family law.  She was honored to be instrumental in the legislation that changed Maryland Divorce law to permit spouses to pursue the no-fault grounds of irreconcilable differences and/or 6 month separation even while residing under the same roof. In 2025, the Maryland General Assembly passed the bill that Ms. Smith had spent years advocating for which finally added a statute with a list of child-centered factors that Judges must consider when determining custody outcomes. 

Ms. Smith has received numerous awards recognizing her work in Family and Domestic Violence, including being honored by two Maryland Governors with Citations for outstanding service to Maryland Crime Victims.  Ms. Smith was selected as a Maryland Super Lawyer in 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025 and is also listed in Martindale-Hubble's Bar Register of Pre-Eminent Lawyers, among the select lawyers who have earned the AV peer review Highest Possible Rating in both Legal Ability & Ethical Standards.  Ms. Smith was selected by the editors of the Maryland Daily Record to the presigious 2024 Family Law Power List.