About Erika M.
Erika M. Smitherman built a career that crosses courtrooms, classrooms and community service. She earned her J.D. from Capital University in 2000 after beginning studies there in 1997. Her academic record also lists attendance at The Ohio State University, Columbus during the period noted as 1997–2003.
Early work tied her directly to the county court system. In 2007 she served as a Court Appointed Special Advocate in Franklin County Domestic & Juvenile Court. That volunteer experience preceded a staff lawyer position in 2009 for Judge Elizabeth M. Gill at the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas, Division of Domestic Relations & Juvenile Branch. Those years provided frequent exposure to family and juvenile proceedings and to the practical demands of courtroom practice.
She moved into private practice and affiliated roles after her time at the courthouse. In 2011 she joined McNair Petroff, LLC as counsel, and two years later became a partner at Petroff Law Offices, LLC. Her title at the firm has been listed as partner since 2013. Alongside practice, she returned to the academic side of the law in 2016, teaching in the Capital University Paralegal Program as an adjunct faculty member.
Smitherman’s professional memberships date back to the start of her legal career. She has held membership in the Columbus Bar Association since 2000. She joined Women Lawyers of Franklin County in 2012 and became active in the New Albany Women’s Network starting in 2017. Those organizations reflect ongoing ties to the local bar and to networks that connect legal practitioners and community leaders.
Colleagues describe a lawyer who knows the local court landscape and the rhythms of family and juvenile matters. Her combination of courtroom experience, service as a guardian ad litem-type volunteer and teaching in a paralegal program gives her a broad view of how cases move from filing to resolution. She has moved steadily from volunteer roles into staff and private-practice positions, maintaining links to both legal education and county court work.
She practices in Ohio and is based at Petroff Law Offices LLC, where her work continues to involve family law and juvenile-related matters.
