About Justin M.
Justin M. Smit earned his J.D. from The John Marshall Law School in 1998 after studying law enforcement administration at Western Illinois University, where he completed a B.S. in 1994. He entered law school following an undergraduate program that combined criminal-justice training and administrative study. The sequence of degrees set a practical tone for a career spent largely in Illinois courts.
He began his legal career in 1998 as an associate at Lake, Toback & Yavitz. That early position gave him day-to-day exposure to litigation and client counseling. In 2000 he joined The Stogsdill Law Office, P.C., where he continued to build experience handling contested matters and courtroom work. The move to Stogsdill placed him at a firm known locally for handling family law and related civil matters.
Over the years Smit has concentrated his practice on family law. He represents clients in divorce, child custody, support matters and other family-related disputes. His work includes trial preparation, negotiation and courtroom advocacy. He often appears in DuPage County and other Illinois venues. The caseload typically mixes negotiated settlements and contested hearings, and he handles both types on behalf of individuals and families.
Smit has remained active in bar association work. He holds membership in the DuPage County Bar Association and participates on the Family Law and Practice Committee. He also serves as a mentor in the DuPage County Bar Association Mentor-mentee Program. At the state level he is a member of the Illinois State Bar Association’s Family Law Section and participates in the Standing Committee on Bar Services and Activities. Those roles keep him connected to colleagues and current developments in procedural and substantive family law matters.
Colleagues describe Smit as methodical and practical in court. He tends to shape a case through careful evidence development and steady courtroom presentation rather than reliance on rhetorical flourishes. Clients typically work with him on either negotiated resolutions or trials when settlement cannot be reached. He balances settlement discussions with readiness for contested hearings.
Today he is based at The Stogsdill Law Office, P.C., where he continues to handle family law cases and related civil matters in Illinois. His current practice focuses on family law, including divorce, custody and support issues.
