Smith_Hillary

Hillary Smith

Smith_Hillary

Hillary Smith

Counsel

Washington DC + 1 202 663 6794

Hillary Smith focuses her practice on complex litigation matters in both trial and appellate courts. She has experience at all levels of state and federal court, including the US Supreme Court, and in a wide range of substantive areas, including administrative law, constitutional law, ERISA, the False Claims Act, and criminal law and procedure. She has taken multiple depositions and assisted in taking and defending numerous other depositions, and recently argued before the DC Court of Appeals on an issue of first impression. Her prior career as a policy and fiscal analyst for a state legislature makes her a valuable member of teams responding to congressional investigations and litigation concerning statutory interpretation. She also maintains an active pro bono practice, with a particular focus on matters related to criminal justice. She was a summer associate at WilmerHale in 2016.

Prior to rejoining the firm, Ms. Smith clerked for the Honorable Beryl A. Howell of the US District Court for the District of Columbia and for the Honorable John M. Walker Jr. of the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. She was also a legal intern for the Office of White House Counsel, where she assisted on clemency and criminal justice issues and matters related to congressional oversight, drafted ethics-related guidance, and supported the vetting process for candidates for nominations to the federal bench. 

While pursuing her legal education, Ms. Smith was a legal intern for the Office of the Inspector General for the New York City Police Department within the Department of Investigation. Prior to law school, she worked as a policy and fiscal analyst for the Colorado Legislative Council Staff, where she conducted nonpartisan policy research for state legislators on topics related to the Senate Judiciary Committee. 

Credentials

  • Education

    • JD, New York University School of Law, 2017

      magna cum laude

      Order of the Coif

      Furman Public Policy Scholarship, Articles Editor, Journal of Legislation and Public Policy, Student Fellow, Center on the Administration of Criminal Law

    • BA, English, University of Pennsylvania, 2007

      magna cum laude English Honors Program, Phi Beta Kappa Humanities Essay Prize

  • Admissions

    • District of Columbia

    • New York

  • Clerkships

    • The Hon. Beryl A. Howell, US District Court for the District of Columbia

    • The Hon. John M. Walker Jr., US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit

Credentials

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