About Judi
Judi Smith studied law and business at Northern Illinois University, earning a J.D. in 1993 and returning there for an MBA in 2007. She combined legal training with later studies in management, an educational path that informed both in-house work and private practice. The chronological rhythm of her credentials—law first, business later—shapes how she approaches client matters today.
Her career spans roles inside an organization and at a small firm. In 2010 she served as General Counsel for Awana Clubs International, handling legal questions for a global nonprofit during a period that required coordination across programs and jurisdictions. That in-house experience sits alongside her work as a lawyer at the Law Office of Judi Smith, where she handles matters for individuals and organizations.
Smith is admitted to practice before the United States Tax Court, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit and in Illinois state courts. Those admissions allow her to pursue cases that involve federal tax issues and appellate matters, as well as state-level disputes. Her courtroom appearances and filings have reflected that mix of tax and appellate practice rather than a single area of law.
Colleagues describe her as pragmatic in the way she frames legal issues. She tends to break complex problems into discrete steps and to outline options for clients in a straightforward way. That approach stems in part from her combined legal and business training. The MBA gave her a wider perspective on organizational and financial concerns, while the J.D. provided the doctrinal grounding for litigation and regulatory work.
At her private practice, she has handled a range of matters that draw on federal and state rules. The office operates as a small firm, where clients often receive direct attention from the attorney rather than from a large team. Smith’s professional path has alternated between advisory work inside an institution and client representation in the private sector, allowing her to move between counsel roles and courtroom or filing work.
As of 2026 she continues to practice at the Law Office of Judi Smith. Her current practice concentrates on tax matters, appellate work and Illinois state court cases.
