Early Life & Career

Maureen Strode grew up in Chicago, Illinois, and went on to study at the University of Missouri-Columbia, where she earned a Bachelor of Journalism. At Mizzou, she was active in the Women’s Leadership Conference and Relay for Life, reflecting a commitment to community and service that would carry through every chapter of her career. It was during her time as a college journalist, covering the cops and courts beat for her local paper, that Maureen first glimpsed the power of the law. Writing about legal proceedings and the judicial system, she witnessed firsthand how attorneys could use storytelling to fight for others — and one case in particular, involving extreme abuse at an assisted living facility for adults with disabilities, set her on the path to law school.

Legal Training

Maureen earned her Juris Doctor from Monterey College of Law in 2025. While there, she channeled her background in storytelling and persuasion into a natural strength in oral advocacy, competing in both the Gibson Moot Court and the prestigious Traynor Moot Court competitions. She was admitted to the California Bar in 2025 and is a member of the Los Angeles County Bar Association (LACBA).

Career at Smith Clinesmith

Maureen joins Smith Clinesmith as an Associate Attorney, practicing in personal injury and appellate advocacy. The journey from journalist to lawyer was not a departure from her values — it was a deepening of them. At Smith Clinesmith, she is eager to give back to her community and help the most vulnerable tell their stories and receive the justice they deserve.