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Paris L. Smith

630.510.4906  |  psmith@rathjelaw.comV-Card |  LinkedIn  | Download Bio

Practice Areas
  • Labor and Employment Law
  • Litigation
Education
  • UIC John Marshall Law School (J.D., 2021) magna cum laude
  • Hodges University (B.S., 2016) magna cum laude
Admissions
  • 2022 State of Illinois
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois​

Paris L. Smith focuses her practice in the areas of litigation, employment and labor law. 

Paris comes to Rathje Woodward LLC with many years of human resources and employment  law experience. Over the course of her career, she served as a Regional Director of HR (U.S.  and Canada), National Director of Human Resources, and as an HR Consultant for several  organizations (including founding an HR Consulting practice for American Express Tax &  Business Services). She has a wealth of experience handling harassment, EEOC, Illinois  Department of Human Rights, and wage and hour claims, as well as other employee  investigations. 

During law school Paris worked as an extern for the Chief Legal Counsel’s office in the U.S.  Dept. of Homeland Security (USCIS). In that role, she wrote and submitted several appellate  briefs to the Board of Immigration Appeals on behalf of the United States. She also worked  as a 711 licensed Prosecutor during which time she successfully prosecuted seven trials.  Additionally, she served in the UIC John Marshall pro-bono litigation clinic where she  represented clients in several types of litigation. 

Paris is passionate about abused and hurting children, and volunteers for Safe Families for  Children by providing a temporary home for children in need. She also participates in and  supports church ministry. 

  • Fall Extern – UIC John Marshall Law School Pro Bono Clinic- 711 Student Attorney 
  • Summer Extern – State of Illinois Circuit Court of Cook County Probate Division- Judicial Clerk 
  • Summer Extern – State of Illinois Circuit Court of Kendall County State Attorney’s Office- 711 Prosecutor 
  • Summer Extern – United States Department of Homeland Security (USCIS) Office of the General Counsel 
  • Summer Extern – Honorable Judge Regina A. Scannicchio of the Circuit Court of Cook County- Judicial Clerk 
  • DuPage County Bar Association
  • Chicago Bar Association
  • Kane County Bar Association

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