Atty. Mariel E. Smith
Mariel E. Smith’s primary practice is comprised of education and employment law.
Arbitration & Mediation & More Attorney · Serving Columbus, GA
Profile Summary
About Mariel E. Smith at a Glance
Mariel E. Smith is a Partner based in Columbus, Georgia, practicing at Hall Booth Smith, P.C.. Their practice focuses on employment, education, and adr. Educated at University of Arkansas School of Law J.D. (—) and Mercer University B.A. cum laude (—). Recognitions include AV Preeminent. Serves clients in Columbus, GA and the surrounding metropolitan area.
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About Mariel E. Smith
- Mariel E. Smith’s primary practice is comprised of education and employment law
- Mariel regularly represents school districts in employment matters, drafting Board policies, handling due process hearings, and handling Title IX claims
- She has years of experience in defending companies in lawsuits and pre-litigation investigations involving agencies such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the U.S
- Department of Labor, the Georgia Department of Labor, and the United States International Trade Commission
- Her litigation experience in employment and labor law include defending employers in wage and hour, discrimination, and harassment claims
- She also has experience in representing clients in mediation
- She has assisted clients in workplace internal investigations as well as those involving employees charged with white collar federal crimes
- She also has experience assisting private companies undergoing workforce reductions
- Mariel originally joined the Columbus office of HBS in 2011 after she worked for several years as a Superior Court Judicial law clerk and subsequently as an Assistant District Attorney, all for the Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit
- During her first few years at HBS, Mariel also served as the Associate Magistrate Judge for Muscogee County and occasionally filled in on the bench for Municipal Court, presiding over civil lawsuits, criminal first appearance hearings, truancy hearings, and warrant applications
- Mariel left HBS in 2017 to work as General Counsel for a global manufacturing company and returned in 2019
- During her time as General Counsel, Mariel managed complex litigation, including lawsuits involving products liability matters, patent infringement, and trade secret theft and also maintained the company’s trademark and patent inventory
- She gained a significant amount of experience in negotiating, revising, and managing agreements including those with two of the largest multinational retail corporations
- She has also successfully negotiated international agreements as related to operations and procurement in the manufacturing industry
- Mariel has unique expertise in consumer and commercial law, particularly as related to ecommerce, business compliance with consumer privacy laws, consumer products packaging/labeling, and international trade
- She is also a member of the Diversity Committee at HBS
- Experience Arbitration & Mediation Mariel is trained civil mediation and is a registered mediator in Georgia
- Her practice has included experience in a significant amount of mediation settings as an advocate, which prepared her to serve as a mediator
- Through those experiences, she is able to offer alternatives to litigation in an environment which facilitates effective compromise and decision making empowerment for the parties
- Education In the context of education law, Mariel regularly researches various issues for school board members and administrators
- She recognizes the importance of ensuring that board policies are up-to-date with the constantly changing state and federal education laws
- In that regard, Mariel has drafted and revised many board policies related to governance, students, fiscal management, and personnel
- Additionally, Mariel provides representation to school districts and employees in defending and investigating lawsuits involving sexual harassment, discrimination, special education, and even motor vehicle collision occurring within the scope of a district employee’s job duties
- Labor & Employment Mariel has had the opportunity to defend public and private sector employers and Department of Labor hearings, write opinion letters regarding suspension and termination procedures, and offer guidance in connection with responding to lawsuits involving current and former employees
- Clients frequently benefit from Mariel’s familiarity with employment law, particularly in the context of litigation
- Recognition •Top Lawyers , Labor & Employment Law, GaBiz Magazine, 2026 •Legal Elite, Labor & Unemployment
- Georgia Trend Magazine
- 2024 •Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America, Education Law, Best Lawyers, 2021-2024 •AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated, High Ethical Standing
- Martindale-Hubbell •On The Rise, Daily Report’s Georgia Legal Awards, 2020 •Top 40 Under 40, National Black Lawyers, 2015-2017 •Top 100, National Black Lawyers Presentations •Getting Bias out of Our Systems From Day One Forum, February 2020 •Social Media and other Hot Topics in Law Presented to Arch Insurance Claims Professionals, October 2019 •Social Media in Claims and Litigation RIMs, Great Plains Chapter, Omaha Nebraska
- November 2019 •Americans with Disabilities Act in the Workplace Employer-client presentation, 2019 •Diversity & Inclusion in the Workplace Employer-client presentation, 2018-2019 •How to Cover your Ass-ets Creative South, Trademark and Copyright Law Presentation, 2017 •Is Your Employee Handbook Up to Date?: Essential Components and Sample Policies for Today’s Workplace
- and Wage and Benefits Issues National Business Institute, 2017 Publications •An intern program can pay dividends - if done correctly HR Dive
- May 9, 2023 •Eleventh Circuit Holds Websites Are Not Places of Public Accommodation and Rejects the Nexus Standard HBS Employment Updates Blog, April 2021 •US Supreme Court Holds That Title VII Protects Homosexual And Transgender Employees HBS Employment Updates Blog, June 2020 •What Should Employers Do When Employees Refuse To Return To Work For Fear Of COVID-19?
- HBS Employment Updates Blog, May 2020 •Enactment Of The CROWN Act Warrants Review Of Employer Policies Governing Grooming And Appearance Standards HBS Employment Updates Blog, January 2020 •Department of Labor Issues New Overtime Rules HBS Employment Updates Blog, September 2019 •Recent Case Decision: Defining Workers Compensation Medical Benefits HBS Worker’s Compensation blog, June 2017 •Some Good Deeds Do Go Unpunished: AED and Emergency Medical Response DRI, 2013 •Placing Commercial and Economic Loss Problem in the Construction Industry Context The John Marshall Law Review, 2007 In the Press 27 HBS Partners Recognized as 2026 Top Lawyers by GaBiz Magazine January 29, 2026 Hall Booth Smith is pleased to announce that 27 of the firm’s partners have been recognized as 2026 “Top Lawyers” by GaBiz Magazine in its Winter issue
Practice Areas Explained
Mariel E. Smith's Areas of Legal Practice
Each practice area below reflects the types of cases Mariel E. Smith handles, with a practical overview of what that area of law involves and how it may apply to your situation in Columbus.
Employment Law in Columbus
Employment lawyers represent workers in wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, wage & hour disputes, and severance negotiations.
Mariel E. Smith is one of 167,770 employment attorneys indexed nationally. Browse employment attorneys in Georgia →
Education Law in Columbus
Education attorneys for special education (IEP), school discipline, Title IX, and student rights.
Mariel E. Smith is one of 23,864 education attorneys indexed nationally. Browse education attorneys in Georgia →
Mediation & Arbitration in Columbus
Mediators and arbitrators for civil, commercial, family, and employment dispute resolution.
Mariel E. Smith is one of 73,315 adr attorneys indexed nationally. Browse adr attorneys in Georgia →
Jurisdictional Context
Why Local Counsel Matters in Columbus
Practicing law in Georgia. Legal matters in Georgia are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in Columbus are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate Georgia state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in Georgia brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this venue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in Georgia courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.
Columbus Courts and Legal Process
Choosing a Columbus-based attorney means your counsel already knows the local docketing timelines, preferred filing formats, and how individual judges typically rule on procedural motions — details that only come from practicing in this jurisdiction day after day. That local familiarity can translate to better strategy, faster filings, and fewer costly surprises.
Looking for additional Georgia attorneys? Browse all attorneys in Columbus or all attorneys in Georgia.
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Professional Profile
Why Clients in Columbus Choose Mariel E. Smith
Selecting an attorney is one of the most consequential decisions you can make when a legal matter arises. Below are the core qualities that distinguish Mariel E. Smith's practice in the field of employment, education, and adr.
Broad Practice Area Coverage
Covering employment, education, and adr, Mariel E. Smith can address the full spectrum of a client's legal needs without requiring referrals to separate specialists for each issue.
Local Presence in Columbus
A Columbus-based practice means Mariel E. Smith attends hearings in the same courthouses, knows the local clerks, and understands the unwritten scheduling norms that affect every case filed here.
Case Types
Common Legal Issues Mariel E. Smith Handles in Columbus
Below is a representative sample of the types of matters Mariel E. Smith has experience with under Georgia law. If your situation involves one of these case categories, this attorney may be well positioned to help you understand your options.
This list is illustrative, not exhaustive. Contact Mariel E. Smith directly to discuss the specifics of your situation.
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Mariel E. Smith's Practice Areas & Specializations
Education & Law School Background
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