Providing Peace Of Mind
Biography
Perry S. Smith, Jr. concentrates his practice in estate planning and litigation and brings over 3 decades of experience in social security disability, personal injury, probate, guardianships, family law, construction litigation, eminent domain for property owners, and contract litigation. Perry is currently the Treasurer of the Lake County Bar Foundation (the charitable wing of the Bar Association). He has also served as a past President and Treasurer of the Lake County Bar Association and a past Delegate to the Illinois Bar Association Assembly.
Perry is not just active in his professional life: an avid golfer and bowler he is also a certified distance running coach through the Road Runners Club of America and is both a member and the coach of the Grayslake Running Club. Perry is also a member of the Lake County Whiskey Society and the Adventures Club Bourbon Society.
Education
- Illinois Institute of Technology Chicago-Kent College of Law, Chicago, Illinois
- J.D. | 1985
- Loyola University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
- B.S. | 1977
Professional Associations
- Illinois State Bar Association | Member
- Illinois Bar Foundation | Member
- Lake County Bar Association | Past President
- Lake County Bar Foundation | Trustee & Treasurer
- National Organization of Social Security Claimants Representatives | Member
- National Bar President’s Association | Member
Awards
- Illinois Super Lawyer Honoree | 2023 – 2024
Practice Areas
- Estate Planning
- Estate + Trust Administration
- Guardianships
- Social Security Disability
Bar Admissions
- Illinois
- United States District Court – Northern District of Illinois
- United States Court of Appeals, 7th Circuit
- United States District Court – Eastern District of Wisconsin
- United States Supreme Court
Speaking Engagements
- “RSDI< SSI and Special Needs Trusts”, Lake County Bar Association, Family Law Committee | 2021
- “Duties of the GAL in Disabled Person’s Estates”, Lake County Bar Association/19th Judicial Circuit, Probate Guardian Ad Litem Training Seminar | 2021
- “Changes in the Illinois Transfer on Death Instrument Act”, Lake County Bar Association, Trusts & Estates Committee | 2021
- “The Role of the Guardian Ad Litem in Decedent’s Estates”, Nineteenth Judicial Circuit, Probate Guardian Ad Litem Training Seminar | 2019
- “Wills, Trusts, Guardianship and Power of Attorney”, Community High School District 128, Community Education Program | 2011-2012
- “What Estate & Trust Lawyers Need to Know About Title II and Title XVI of the Social Security Act”, Lake County Bar Association, Wills, Trusts & Estates Committee Seminar | 2010
- “Wills, Trusts, Guardianship and Power of Attorney”, Community High School District 128, Community Education Program | 2007-2010
- “Vocational Experts”, Lake County Bar Association, Civil Trial & Appeal Committee Seminar | 2004
- “A Primer on Practice before the Social Security Administration”, Lake County Bar Association, “Brown Bag” Seminar | 2004
- “Guardianships and Powers of Attorney”, Wysocki & Smith, Seminar in conjunction with Ressler Financial Services, and, Evoy, Kamshulte & Jacobs | 2004
- “Powers of Attorney, Guardianship, DNR’s and Advanced Directives”, Downey Veteran’s Affairs Medical Center (now Captain James Lovell Federal Health Care Center) Family Association | 2003
- “Social Security Disability and its Application for the Personal Injury or Worker’s Compensation Practitioner”, Lake County Bar Association Civil Trial & Appeal Committee Seminar | 1999
- “Liability Issues in the New Era of Managed Healthcare”, Radiological Society of North America Annual Conference | 1998
- “Social Security Law and its Applications for the Family Law Practitioner”, Lake County Bar Association, Family Law Committee Seminar | 1998
- “Refresher Course – Lecture on Liability Issues for Healthcare Practitioners”, Radiological Society of North America Annual Conference | 1998
- “Negligence, Medical Negligence and Avoidance of Liability”, Stateline Ultrasound Society | 1998
- “New Arbitrator Training Program”, Circuit Court of 19th Judicial Circuit, Lake County, Illinois | 1997
- “Negligence, Medical Negligence and Liability”, Piedmont Virginia Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers | 1995
- “Negligence, Medical Negligence and Liability”, Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers National Conference | 1990, 1994
- “Retail Theft”, Hawthorne Center Merchants Association | 1987
- “Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol”, Northern Illinois Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse | 1986
Blogs + Published Works
- Lake County Bar Association Docket Magazine, Social Security Disability Practice; Procedural Changes and Electronic Practice | 2013
- Lake County Bar Association Docket Magazine, Vocational Experts | 2004
- Lake County Bar Association Docket Magazine, Vol. I, No. 6 Social Security Disability | 1998
Pro Bono Activities
- Volunteers Lawyer’s Program Award Recipient for Pro Bono Service