About Charles E.
Charles E. Schmidt built his legal foundation in the 1960s and 1970s, earning a B.A. in Government and International Affairs from the University of Notre Dame in 1969 and a J.D. from Dickinson College in 1974. He later returned to the law school community as an adjunct professor, teaching courses and mentoring students at Dickinson School of Law.
His professional life centers on private practice. He is an officer, shareholder and partner at Schmidt Kramer, P.C., where he has handled trial work and courtroom matters for many years. He also spent time in the classroom as an adjunct professor, a role that kept him engaged with younger lawyers and the evolving landscape of legal education.
Schmidt holds certification from the National Board of Trial Advocacy, an indication of formal recognition in trial practice. That credential aligns with his long-standing involvement in trial-focused bar organizations. He has been a member of the American Association for Justice since 1980. He joined the Pennsylvania Association for Justice board in 1998 and has remained involved since then. He has served as president of the Central Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association since 2005 and continues in that leadership position.
Colleagues and former students describe him as steady in court and exacting in preparation. He favors clear, direct argument and places emphasis on evidence and witness preparation. Those preferences echo in his teaching and in his courtroom approach; students saw the same practical orientation reflected in his classes as juries observed in his trials.
Over the years he has split his time between firm responsibilities and association leadership. At Schmidt Kramer, P.C. he has shared managerial duties while also maintaining a caseload. The firm operates offices in Harrisburg and Camp Hill, where he appears in state court and addresses procedural and substantive issues in litigation.
Outside of court and classroom, his long tenure in professional organizations has meant sustained engagement with trial practice issues, rules changes and continuing legal education. He has served on committees and participated in panels that address trial technique and practice standards.
Now in practice, he combines teaching experience, courtroom certification and association leadership in the service of clients. He currently practices as a trial lawyer, handling civil litigation matters from the firm’s Harrisburg and Camp Hill offices.
