Attorney

MICHELLE LOUVENIA SMITH, ESQUIRE

*** ***** ********* ******, ********* C-11

Lansdowne, Pennsylvania 19050

Home: 610-***-****; Cell: 267-***-****

Email: ********.*******@*****.***

BAR ADMISSION:

Pennsylvania

SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS:

Accomplished attorney with various experience working in state and local government, as well as for a

public interest organization and for a nonprofit organization. Former judicial law clerk for a Pennsylvania

Superior Court judge.

Relevant Skills

Litigation ~ Administrative Hearing Appearances ~ Civil Commitment Hearing Appearances ~ Legal

Research ~ Legal Writing of Pleadings, Memorandum, Motions and Post-Hearing Briefs ~ Witness

Preparation ~ Client Relations ~ Appellate Practice ~ Public Interest

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Public Welfare, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Assistant Counsel, Office of General Counsel (August 2007 to April 2012)

Represented the Department before the Bureau of Hearings and Appeals at administrative hearings

involving child abuse expunction appeals and child day care licensing appeals.

• Performed legal research on relevant issues of law involving the Child Protective Services Law and

the Pennsylvania regulations involving child day care licensing requirements.

• Performed discovery prior to the administrative hearing.

• Interviewed clients and witnesses in preparation for the administrative hearing.

• Drafted and filed pleadings, motions to dismiss and post-hearing briefs involving child abuse and

child day care licensing matters.

Represented the Department at civil commitment hearings before the Court of Common Pleas of

Philadelphia, Mental Health Division.

• Interviewed the treating psychiatrists at Norristown State Hospital in preparation for the hearing.

• Performed legal research on relevant issues of law involving the Mental Health Procedures Act.

Reviewed and approved special needs trusts of disabled individuals on medical assistance to

ensure compliance with the Pennsylvania state statute regarding special needs trusts. Reviewed

written requests for documents and drafted responses under the Right-To-Know Law.

Philadelphia Corporation for Aging, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Assistant Counsel, Office of General Counsel (April 2007 to July 2007)

Reviewed and drafted guardianship petitions for older adults arising under the Older Adult Protective

Services Act. Represented the agency at guardianship hearings before the Court of Common Pleas of

Philadelphia, Orphan’s Court Division.

Pepper Hamilton, LLP, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Contract Attorney, Health Effects Litigation (September 2004 to April 2007)

Reviewed discovery documents involving a major products liability litigation matter for attorney-client

privilege and relevancy by using an electronic discovery database (Discovery Radar).

Honorable James R. Cavanaugh, Superior Court of Pennsylvania, West Chester, Pennsylvania

Law Clerk (September 2003 to September 2004)

Reviewed and analyzed lower court family law and criminal law appeals. Performed legal research and

drafted legal memoranda for the judge’s review. Discussed legal issues with the judge to determine the

disposition of the case.

Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas, Family Division, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Certified Legal Intern, Pro Se Motions Project (August 2002 to April 2003)

Interviewed indigent clients on various family law issues such as child custody and support. Assisted

clients in preparing motions and represented clients in Pro Se Motions Court.

Honorable Gary L. Lancaster, U.S. District Court, Western District of Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh,

Pennsylvania

Judicial Extern (June 2002 to November 2002)

Researched and analyzed legal issues involving social security law. Drafted legal memoranda and judgment

orders.

Tarasi & Tarasi, P.C., Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Law Clerk (October 2000 to August 2002)

Researched legal issues involving personal injury and medical malpractice law. Drafted pleadings,

motions, briefs and memoranda. Assisted the attorneys in all phases of discovery.

Community Legal Services, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Legal Intern, Housing Unit (June to August 2000)

Conducted client intake involving various landlord-tenant issues in the Housing Unit. Assisted a client in

filing her landlord-tenant appeal.

Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Law Clerk, Pre-Trial Unit (February 1996 to June 1999)

Prepared discovery documents of criminal defendants who were held for court after their preliminary

hearing. Represented the District Attorney’s Office at the arraignment hearings by distributing the

discovery documents to defense counsel. Responsible for case management of discovery files.

EDUCATION:

Duquesne University School of Law, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Juris Doctor, June 2003

• Kandy Reidbord Ehrenwerth Award, June 2003

Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, May 1989

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS:

• Pennsylvania Bar Association

• Philadelphia Bar Association

• Delaware County Bar Association

COMPUTER SKILLS:

Proficient in Lexis Nexis and Westlaw

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