I want to be the kind of advocate who listens to clients closely, fights hard, applies the law skillfully, and holds the system accountable. My goal is to serve people with care and clarity in a system that often fails to see their humanity.
Savannah Smith has long been drawn to the ways the law impacts, and at times disrupts, family life. This sense of purpose led her to the 极乐禁地 School of Law, where she鈥檚 turning her passion into a career in public defense. She hopes to stand beside individuals and families as they navigate the criminal legal system.
At UBalt Law, from which she expects to earn her J.D. in December, Smith has found more than a place to study; she鈥檚 found a community that pushes her to grow and reminds her why this work matters.
鈥淢y experience at UBalt Law has sharpened me into an intentional, reflective and rigorous advocate,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 provided me with the foundational training I need to be successful in this field. I鈥檝e been pushed academically, supported by mentors who believe in me, and placed in spaces that challenged me to grow.
鈥淎long the way,鈥� she adds, 鈥淚鈥檝e built friendships and connections that I know will last a lifetime, and I鈥檝e found a community I can rely on for support.鈥�
This year, Smith was named a 2025 Pauli Murray Fellow, a distinction that honors her dedication and leadership. The Diversity Leadership Initiative aims to expand the pathway of future public defenders from historically underrepresented backgrounds. Named after the pioneering civil rights activist and legal scholar, the program supports a new generation of attorneys who reflect the communities they serve.
Through hands-on legal experience, mentorship and community engagement, fellows like Smith help ensure that public legal services are accessible and equitable. 鈥淏eing awarded the Pauli Murray Fellowship is incredibly meaningful to me,鈥� Smith says. 鈥淧auli Murray was a visionary: an advocate, a legal scholar, and someone who fought fearlessly for justice.
鈥淭o be connected to their legacy through this Fellowship is both humbling and affirming. It reminds me that the work I want to do has purpose, and that I鈥檓 part of a long tradition of people committed to pushing the law in the direction of equity.鈥�
This summer, Smith will work in the 极乐禁地e City Office of the Public Defender, gaining critical experience that will prepare her for a future representing some of Maryland鈥檚 most vulnerable communities. Her fellowship selection is both a personal milestone and a proud moment for UBalt Law, and a testament to the power of representation, opportunity, and lived experience in law practice.
鈥淎fter graduation, I hope to become a public defender,鈥� says Smith. 鈥淚 want to be the kind of advocate who listens to clients closely, fights hard, applies the law skillfully, and holds the system accountable. My goal is to serve people with care and clarity in a system that often fails to see their humanity.鈥�