Emily M. Smith

Dedicated criminal defense attorney committed to providing compassionate, effective advocacy for individuals and families navigating the criminal justice system. Originally from southern New Jersey. Emily Smith’s family moved from New Jersey to upstate New York, then settled in Dayton, Ohio where she’s spent most of her life.

After college, Emily worked as a 911 dispatcher for the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department with the intention of becoming a police officer, but found herself being more interested in the law than the enforcement. She transitioned her career into legal support working as a legal secretary. She then became an in-court assistant, then a criminal and family law paralegal. She felt she could contribute more by becoming an attorney herself.

After graduating from law school, Emily worked as a public defender in the Montgomery County Public Defender’s Office. She then became a prosecuting attorney with the Montgomery County Prosecutor’s Office where she worked in the child protective unit, the grand jury division, then the felony criminal division.

Despite her success in prosecution, Emily has always felt drawn to defense work. She has witnessed her family and friends struggle with criminal charges and she understands the fear, confusion, and vulnerability defendants face. Her mission is to ensure that every client feels seen, heard, respected, and supported. She believes that the court should serve the people, not the other way around. Her desire is to make the system more accessible, understandable, and humane for the everyday person, regardless of their background or the accusations they face.

Courts Admitted :
Ohio State Courts
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio