“I’ve always been big on fairness.”
Attorney Vickey A. Wright-Smith says it without hesitation. Fairness is not just a professional value. It is the thread that connects her childhood, her education, her faith, and her work in the courtroom.
During Black History Month, the School District of Lancaster is proud to highlight Attorney Wright-Smith, a member of McCaskey High School’s Class of 1984, whose journey reflects discipline and a deep commitment to justice.
A foundation built on sacrifice and love
Long before she stepped into a courtroom, her understanding of fairness began at home.
Her parents were young when they married. Her father was 20. Her mother was 16. They relocated to Lancaster determined to build a better life for their family. Both worked factory jobs. They did not have shortcuts. What they had was work ethic and faith.
“My parents instilled in us a strong work ethic,” she says. “And a foundation of love.”
They raised five children, all of whom would graduate from McCaskey. In their home, discipline and loyalty were not optional.
“When we say family over everything, we mean it,” she explains. “We genuinely love each other, and we are protective of one another.”
That environment gave her stability. It also gave her ambition.
Growing up black in Lancaster
Attorney Wright-Smith attended Wickersham Elementary, Lincoln Junior High, and McCaskey High School. At Wickersham, she was often one of only a few Black students in her class.
She remembers an activity where students brought in baby photos and classmates guessed whose was whose.
“It was easy to pick me out,” she says with a smile.
Even as a child, she understood what it meant to stand out. She did not internalize that difference as limitation. Instead, it became motivation.
“We still have to work harder,” she reflects.
At McCaskey, she embraced school life fully. She participated in Black History programming and competed in the Black History Bowl. She was present. She was involved. She was visible.
During her senior year, she was crowned McCaskey’s first Black Homecoming Queen.
“I wasn’t your typical homecoming queen,” she says. “I was a big girl, but I was active and involved in everything.”
The moment represented more than school spirit. It signaled belonging. It affirmed that representation matters. For younger students watching, it expanded what was possible.
A dream rooted in fairness
By the fifth grade, she already knew she wanted to become an attorney.
“Just being Black in this country, you see how we’ve been treated,” she says. “I always wanted to be in a position where I could help people and make sure they were treated fairly.”
After graduating from McCaskey, she attended Penn State University. She proudly claims her identity as a Nittany Lion, but she also speaks honestly about the challenges she faced as a minority student.
“Sometimes I felt like I was around students who had never seen a Black person before,” she recalls.
One afternoon, while waiting for a bus, someone shouted a racial slur at her.
“I vowed that I was going to finish despite all that I had encountered,” she says.
That experience did not break her. It sharpened her resolve.
“It made me more determined,” she explains. “It reminded me that I couldn’t just show up halfway. I had to be prepared, polished, and excellent. That still shapes how I show up in courtrooms today. I make sure I am prepared. I make sure my clients are heard. I don’t allow anyone to dismiss us.”
Her determination led her to Howard University School of Law.
“I knew I would be back at the Mecca,” she says.
At Howard, she was introduced to the Socratic method, a demanding and rigorous approach to legal education. She worked tirelessly, earning a scholarship through discipline and perseverance. Her father supported her by paying her rent so she could focus entirely on preparing for the bar exam.
She passed the DC Bar. Then the Pennsylvania Bar. Then the Maryland Attorney’s Exam.
“I am so blessed,” she says. “God has been good to me.”
Building her own practice and navigating loss
Her legal career included serving as a law clerk at DC Superior Court, working as a prosecutor, and practicing in private firms before she made a bold decision in 2011 to launch her own practice.
“The lights are still on,” she says with pride.
Owning her firm allowed her to choose cases aligned with her values and serve clients with integrity. It also required faith.
A few years ago, she experienced profound personal loss when her husband passed away. While continuing to lead her practice and meet professional obligations, she carried grief privately.
“I’m still processing,” she has shared.
Through it all, she remained steady. Her faith anchored her. Her work sustained her.
As a Black attorney, she recognizes that scrutiny can feel uneven.
“We always have to work harder,” she says.
Still, she remains grounded in integrity.
“I stay true to myself,” she says. “And the Lord always makes a way.”
Inspired by representation
Throughout her journey, representation has mattered deeply.
One of her greatest inspirations has been former District Justice and City Councilmember Louise Williams. Seeing a Black woman serve with fairness and dignity shaped her own aspirations.
In a gratitude letter she once wrote, she shared that she did not simply want to become a judge. She wanted to be “a judge like you.”
“All you want to do is see people like you doing well,” she says.
She draws similar inspiration from Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson and Vice President Kamala Harris. Their leadership affirms that barriers can be broken and that excellence belongs at every level.
Representation, for her, is not symbolic. It is personal.
What Black History Month means
For Attorney Wright-Smith, Black History Month is both celebration and responsibility.
“Black history is American history,” she says.
February provides space to honor the long journey from enslavement to emancipation, from segregation to civil rights victories, from exclusion to representation at the highest levels of government.
She attends prayer breakfasts, church programs, HBCU sporting events, and community celebrations. She shares Black history facts and stories on social media. She proudly wears clothing that reflects her identity.
“I’m Black every day,” she says. “But in February, we turn it up a notch.”
She also offers a clear message to the entire SDoL community.
“Know your history and study your history,” she says. “We are in a climate now where they’re trying to rewrite our history. No one can tell our stories better than us.”
Words for the next generation
Her advice to students is direct and practical.
“Start now,” she says. “Get involved. Find a mentor. Volunteer. Do internships. Believe in yourself.”
She reminds students that success is not one size fits all. College is one path. Trade school is another. Entrepreneurship is another.
“Whatever you believe you can do, you can do it,” she says. “You just have to put the time and the work in.”
A legacy of fairness and kindness
When asked what she hopes people will say about her years from now, she does not mention titles or awards.
“Kindness,” she says. “I want people to say Vickey was good people. She was kind. She was loving. She was encouraging.”
From Wickersham to McCaskey, from Penn State to Howard University, from adversity to achievement, Attorney Vickey A. Wright-Smith’s journey is grounded in faith, resilience, and fairness.
Her story began in Lancaster classrooms. It continues in every courtroom she enters.
And during Black History Month, we celebrate her not only for her accomplishments, but for the example she sets. Excellence with integrity. Determination with grace. Fairness with courage.
Her life reminds us that the pursuit of justice often begins with a simple belief.
Fairness matters.