B.A., University of Georgia
J.D., Georgia State University
Ethan Smith is the staff attorney for the Veterans Legal Clinic at the University of Georgia School of Law. In this role, he supervises students and manages an active caseload assisting veterans and their dependents with obtaining benefits they have earned through service to our country, primarily before the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
Before coming to UGA, Smith served as a lieutenant in the United States Navy, working as a staff judge advocate. In this position, he directly advised the Commanding Officer of the naval command that houses the Hospital Corpsman “A” School. He also advised on criminal investigations while collaborating with the Naval Criminal Investigative Service and local law enforcement agencies. Before his tour as a staff judge advocate, Smith was a defense counsel and legal assistance attorney where he represented service members in criminal and civil law matters.
Smith earned his bachelor’s degree magna cum laude from UGA in 2012. After graduating, he moved to West Africa and worked as an agroforestry volunteer with the U.S. Peace Corps. He earned his Juris Doctor cum laude from Georgia State University in 2018. While earning his law degree, he served as associate research editor for Georgia State University Law Review. He was also a graduate research assistant and prepared coursework for non-native English speakers in the LL.M. program. Of note, Smith has advanced competency in French.