Alexandra M. Smith
Associate | Roanoke »
Alexandra M. Smith
Associate | Roanoke »
Alexandra M. Smith is a civil defense litigator who represents individuals, businesses, insurers, and other clients in a broad range of civil liability matters, with a particular focus on auto accident and transportation defense, as well as business premises and operations claims. She handles matters throughout the litigation process, from early case evaluation and discovery through motions practice, settlement negotiations, and trial.
Before joining Harman, Claytor, Corrigan & Wellman, Alexandra practiced with the Legal Aid Society of Roanoke Valley and Caskie & Frost, PC, gaining experience in client advocacy and litigation strategy. She also served as a Law Clerk to the Honorable J. Frederick Watson and the Honorable F. Patrick Yeatts of the Lynchburg Circuit Court, where she developed a strong foundation in Virginia trial-court practice and procedure.
Alexandra earned her Juris Doctorate from William & Mary Law School, her bachelor’s degree from Bard College, and a master’s degree from Central European University. Her legal practice is informed by a multidisciplinary background that includes prior work in higher education, nonprofit organizations, and restorative justice.
Based in Roanoke, Virginia, Alexandra represents clients in courts throughout the Commonwealth. She approaches each matter with careful attention to the facts, a practical understanding of her clients’ objectives, and a commitment to developing thoughtful and effective litigation strategies.
Professional Honors & Activities
- Lynchburg Bar Association
- Roanoke Bar Association
- Federal Bar Association
- Defense Research Institute
- Virginia Association of Defense Attorneys
- The Ted Dalton American Inn of Court
- Virginia Super Lawyers – Rising Stars (2026)
- Civil Litigation: Defense
- Virginia Access to Justice Commission Pro Bono Service Honor Roll (2026)
Publications
- “Absent Justice: Trial in Absentia after the Death of the Defendant in International Human Rights Cases,” Article published on William & Mary Law School’s Comparative Jurist website (October 2021)
Presentations
- Special Education Eligibility & IEP Development, Presentation at the 2024 Pro Bono Regional Summit hosted by Virginia Legal Aid Society, McGuireWoods, Lynchburg Bar Association, and Liberty University School of Law (September 2024)
- Enacting the Promise of Liberty: Positive Rights, Education, and the Administrative State, Presentation at the International Forum on Liberty and Freedom: Kosciuszko’s Legacy hosted by the Columbia Harriman Institute, European Humanities University, and Mykolas Romeris University (February 2021)
Education
- Bard College, B.A. (2013)
- Central European University, M.A. (2017)
- William & Mary Law School, J.D. (2021)
Bar & Court Admissions
- Virginia State Bar
- District of Columbia Bar
- United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia
