Sarah Smidi '23
A Purpose-Driven Community Builder
by Kate Abu-Absi | July 7, 2026
Alumni Sarah Smidi ‘23 wears many hats. She is (in no particular order) an attorney, a habitual community volunteer, a hijab wearing ambassador of the Muslim faith, the eldest of 7 children and the only daughter (yes, she has 6 younger brothers), a part-time caregiver for her elderly grandparents, and a woman on a mission to bring people together. In my opinion, she is also a perfect representation of what the College of Law values. A purpose-driven community builder committed to connecting legal professionals with vulnerable populations and advancing our shared commitment to being seen as valuable members of society. Locally, we can all count ourselves lucky that her determination is laser-focused on the people and places in Toledo, OH, and the rest of the world will need to patiently wait.
In the Smidi family, the phrase “education is number one” holds special weight. They are the words that Sarah’s Lebanese grandfather has said to every one of his children and grandchildren, so it comes as no surprise that Sarah has always been a determined student. From K-12, Sarah attended the Toledo Islamic Academy, which prepared her academically, but the STEM-heavy curriculum didn’t necessarily spark any of her interests, making it challenging to envision a professional path. Much to her surprise, upon entering the University of Toledo as an undergrad, she found that Criminal Justice piqued her interest, and she decided to forge her own path and pursue it as a major. With her family’s unwavering support, Sarah jumped into her program and graduated in 3 years, all while working two part-time jobs.
In the Fall of 2020, COVID-19 made most academic and professional decisions feel risky; still, Sarah decided to build on the foundation of curiosity she had acquired in her undergrad program to pursue law school. Upon entering the University of Toledo College of Law, Sarah faced all the common challenges of first-year, first-generation law students, but with the added burden of spending her entire first year online. During her 2L year, classes were back in person, which improved the academic side of law school, but finding community was a challenge. The student organizations that have historically helped new students acclimate to law school and foster friendships all needed to rebuild, and that one year seemed to decimate young people’s ability to connect. Right away, Sarah brought out her community-building skills and put them to use to help students of all backgrounds connect beyond the classroom. Her energy was infectious, and by the end of her 2L year, established organizations were back up and running, and the need for new ones was being identified. One such organization is the Middle Eastern and North African Law Student Association (MENALSA), which Sarah spearheaded and continues to grow and thrive today.
Since passing the bar, Sarah has sought professional opportunities that allow her to advance her career without sacrificing her role as daughter, sister, granddaughter, and community activist. After leaving her first post-law school position at Legal Aid of Western Ohio for a new job as Assistant Legal Counsel for the Ohio Auditor of State, she continues to volunteer regularly. She can’t seem to help herself. In fact, I first met Sarah not through the College of Law but at the Islamic Food Bank during a Saturday-morning volunteer food-packing event. I was with the newly established Muslim Student Law Association and several other volunteers from the Toledo area, and I was greeted by her warm smile, which instantly made all of us feel welcome. Once it was time to get started, she briefly talked about the Islamic Food Bank, its mission, and the hundreds of people of all faiths it served weekly, then jumped in and started working alongside us. She didn’t share that she was also a volunteer, perhaps because she is there most Saturday mornings, but I suspect it is more than that. I think her commitment runs so deep she has moved beyond a volunteer. She is family.
Q&A with Sarah Smidi
Where did you grow up?
Toledo, Ohio.
If you are a first-generation college or law student, did it have any impact on your
experience in law school or in your career?
As a first-generation law student, I started my first semester of law school not knowing
the difference between “plaintiff” and “defendant”. It felt like everyone was expected
to start with the same level of understanding and the learning curve was incredibly
steep in the beginning. I had no background knowledge and no friends/family in law
to support my transition and the pandemic exacerbated that. When people tell you opportunities
come with “who you know”, and you come in knowing nobody and are visibly different
compared to your peers, you’re likely going to work ten times harder to reach those
opportunities.
Do you have a favorite memory from attending Toledo Law?
The Middle Eastern and North African Law Student Association (MENALSA) was the highlight
of my three years at Toledo Law! As the former President, I felt a deep obligation
to support my peers in ways that the law and lawyers usually do not - by creating
a welcoming space for students and professionals alike to come and celebrate their
cultures, ethnicities, and what makes them “different”. It fueled my love for connection,
relationship-building, and mentorship. We had music ringing through the forum during
our events, students and staff broke bread together, and we taught peers about our
backgrounds and realities faced by people just like us across the world. We educated
the greater Toledo legal community and had so much fun while doing so!
What did you find difficult about your time in law school?
The lack of diversity and true appreciation for diversity in the institution, and
the legal field in general, made me feel disheartened when I began. I quickly realized
that some of my peers and professionals in the field had their careers consume 100%
of their lives, which felt at odds with who I am. I’m not a lawyer 100% of the time
and the other facets of my identity hold more value and importance. While in law school,
however, I struggled to find a space where those other parts could be celebrated and
not dismissed. Taking initiative to build a space for those of us that felt “different”
was ultimately the solution, which is how MENALSA was born.
What was your first position after law school? How did you find it?
I practiced eviction defense at Legal Aid of Western Ohio for around 3 years. My primary
workload involved representing low-income tenants in their eviction cases. On top
of cases, I regularly volunteered at eviction record sealing clinics, led our summer
associate program committee, and interpreted for clients in a variety of cases. I
found my previous job at Legal Aid of Western Ohio after searching and applying for
every single job I could find in Toledo. Months later, I luckily was offered the position.
What are some of the struggles you have encountered in your career and how did you
navigate them?
At my previous job, I represented clients in some of their most vulnerable moments.
Trauma, mental illness, poverty, and substance abuse manifested on a daily basis.
I quickly learned the importance of well-rounded support outside of the evictions
- like helping clients cope with mental health crises, requesting redactions for the
safety of domestic violence survivors, and even securing financial assistance for
those that need it most. People are multi-faceted like me, and so are the problems
that afflict them. Approaching these hardships with care, managing expectations, and
not sugarcoating the reality of the system we were fighting in were daily battles
for me. Centering my faith as a Muslim was the only way I found solace and Islam continues
to fuel my passion for public service.
What was the best advice you ever received?
Approach opportunities with confidence, because confidence takes you 50% of the way
there. You cannot control everyone else’s initial perception of you - you may get
looks, stares, and lots of doubt. What you can do is hold your head high, walk in
with confidence, and own your ability to perform.
What do you enjoy doing outside of work?
I love volunteering! I enjoy every minute of giving back to my community - whether
it’s planning events for the social and spiritual enrichment of the local Muslim community,
supporting initiatives at the Islamic Food Bank, or mentoring younger students and
professionals. Aside from my volunteering, I cherish time with my family and love
creating memories with them.