Lauren Dodrill Benjamin joined Smith, Gildea & Schmidt, LLC in February of 2011. Her practice focuses on complex civil litigation, including personal injury, products liability, medical malpractice, and business litigation. Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Benjamin represented property owners in Baltimore City in complex lead paint defense litigation.

Ms. Benjamin is a cum laude graduate of Franklin & Marshall College (B.A. Government, 2005) where she was a member of the Women’s Basketball Team. Ms. Benjamin attended the University of Baltimore School of Law, graduating cum laude with a concentration in Litigation & Advocacy (J.D., 2008). During law school, Ms. Benjamin was the Assistant Recent Developments Editor of the University of Baltimore Law Forum and a Rule 16 student attorney in the Civil Advocacy Clinic where she had the opportunity to represent low-income clients in housing and employment disputes.

After graduating from the University of Baltimore School of Law, Ms. Benjamin served as the Judicial Law Clerk to the Honorable Judith C. Ensor in the Circuit Court for Baltimore County (2008-2009). Ms. Benjamin is licensed to practice law in the State of Maryland and the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, and she is a member of the Maryland State and Baltimore County Bar Associations.

In addition to her law practice, Ms. Benjamin is an active member of the community, serving on the Alumnae Board of her high school alma mater, Roland Park Country School, and she is the 2014-2015 Alumnae Development Chair for The Fund for Roland Park Country School. She is also a co-organizer of the Maryland Moot Court Invitational Tournament for high school students throughout Maryland and she volunteers on the Baltimore County Sitting Judges Campaign.

In recognition for her professional accomplishments and civic involvement, Ms. Benjamin was named to The Daily Record’s 20 in Their Twenties in 2012. In 2012, Ms. Benjamin was also named one of Baltimore’s Finest under 35 by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Ms. Benjamin has also been recognized as a Rising Star by Super Lawyers Magazine in the publication's annual list of top attorneys in Maryland for 2013, 2014 and 2015.