Vania M. Smith is a member of our Commercial Real Estate practice group in the North Bethesda office, specializing in commercial leasing, and landlord/tenant disputes. Prior to transitioning to the legal profession as a second career, Ms. Smith had over 20 years of experience in commercial real estate management in the Washington, D.C. metro area, working for many leading commercial real estate firms including Hines, Lincoln Property Company, Vornado/Charles E. Smith (now JBG Smith), and Cushman & Wakefield.
In law school, Ms. Smith served as a Teaching Assistant in the Lawyering Skills Program and was both a Production Editor, and a published author for the Catholic University Law Review. She was also the 2019 National Champion at the coveted National Trial Competition sponsored by the American College of Trial Lawyers, where she also won Best Oral Advocate.
In addition to her practice, Ms. Smith is an Adjunct Professor at CUA Law, where she coaches the National Trial Team. She has been a guest lecturer for the University of Calgary School of Law on legal ethics and professional responsibility and for CUA Law on zoning and land use. Additionally, Ms. Smith will be published in the Fall of 2023 in the Stetson University Journal of Advocacy and the Law.
Ms. Smith is a resident of the District of Columbia and has a commitment to community service as evidenced by her work at pro bono legal clinics on issues ranging from affordable housing to estate planning for seniors.
- State Bar of Maryland
- National Bar Association
- American Bar Association
- The DC Bar
- National Association of Legal Advocacy Educators (VP, DEI)
- National Association for Equity in the Legal Profession (Founding Board Member)
- Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity International
- Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
- Building Bridges Across the River (Board Member)
- National Association of Parliamentarians
- The District of Columbia, 2021
- Maryland, 2023
- The Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law, J.D. 2020
- The George Washington University, M.P.A. 2001
- The George Washington University, B.A. 1998