Noal S. Smith
Nearly three decades of work history prove Noal Smith's unfaltering desire to choose careers that would allow him to serve other people, contribute to American society and develop his own talents. Immediately after High school, he embarked on what he considered a privilege and a duty to serve a foreign mission in Chile, for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. As a missionary, he gained an interest in travel and foreign cultures and the ability to speak Spanish fluently. He also gained a genuine appreciation for the society and government of the United States of America. As a young man, he joined the United States Air Force with the specific intent of becoming a Russian linguist for the Air Force Intelligence Agency, which he achieved. However, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, he took advantage of an opportunity to become a Serbo-Croatian linguist and joined a unique unit that supported UN operations over Croatia, Bosnia and former Yugoslavia where he was awarded a commendation for his work.
He elected an honorable discharge at the end of his enlistment to complete university studies in business. He attended classes through the University of Phoenix and supported his family by working as a charter school teacher, private investigator, waiter, semi-conductor manufacturer and a First-aid, CPR and OSHA Compliance Safety Instructor. After earning a bachelor's degree in business administration, he went to work full time as an OSHA Compliance Consultant and Safety Trainer. He studied and developed OSHA Instruction certifications in nearly forty safety topics including HAZMAT and equipment handling certifications. He finally went to work as the Safety Officer and part-time construction superintendent for a major construction company in Phoenix, AZ.
It was while he was serving in that capacity that he worked with State and independent attorneys and decided to pursue a law degree. Noal and his family moved to Salem, Oregon, where he graduated from Willamette University College of Law with a Juris Doctorate and a certification in International Law in 2006. He passed the bar that same year and began work as a sole practitioner serving clients in criminal defense, domestic relations, international business contracts, medical malpractice and personal injury. Since then, he has worked in Marion and Polk Counties, principally in criminal defense, but he also spent a year working in civil law handling construction disputes, real estate law, landlord tenant disputes, bankruptcy, contracts and collections. Noal currently works for DeKalb & Associates in Bend, Oregon, handling principally criminal defense but also offering services in domestic relations, landlord/tenant disputes, bankruptcy, real estate disputes and collections. Mr. Smith is now an experienced trial attorney and a zealous advocate for his clients.