Of Counsel
Teri C. Smith-Jones, Esq. has been an attorney at Chermol & Fishman since retiring from her position as an Assistant Regional Counsel for the SSA’s OGC. As an attorney for SSA, she served as a Special Assistant United States Attorney and District Leader in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. While at OGC, Ms. Smith-Jones litigated numerous disability appeals before a variety of federal courts, both at the district and circuit court levels. She provided advice and training to SSA personnel, including Administrative Law Judges. Ms. Smith-Jones was a co-author of the Pennsylvania Bar Institute’s course materials for its continuing legal education presentations on Social Security Appeals in Federal Courts.
During her tenure with SSA, Ms. Smith-Jones received numerous awards, including the General Counsel’s Leadership Excellence Award, two General Counsel’s Quality Service Awards, and a Deputy Commissioner’s Citation. In addition to her experience at OGC, Ms. Smith-Jones worked as an attorney decision-writer at the Office of Hearings and Appeals for more than five years. Ms. Smith-Jones graduated from the University of Maryland and then attended the Columbus School of Law at the Catholic University of America. Ms. Smith-Jones is a United States Army veteran. She originally served as an enlisted soldier and non-commissioned officer. After graduating from law school, she accepted a Commission as an Army lawyer in the JAG Corps. She retired from the Army Reserve as a Lieutenant Colonel.
Education
- J.D., Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law, Washington, District of Columbia
- B.A., University of Maryland
Published Works
- Co-Author, Social Security Appeals in Federal Courts, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, CLE
Honors and Awards
- General Counsel’s Leadership Excellence Award
- Two General Counsel’s Quality Service Awards
- Deputy Commissioner’s Citation
Past Employment Positions
- Army Reserve, Lieutenant Colonel