Spotlight Feature: Mary T. Swift
Graduation Year: 2012
WLR Position: Managing Editor
Mary T. Swift is a partner at Nielsen, Koch & Grannis in Seattle, Washington. Prior to joining Nielsen, Koch & Grannis, Mary was a law clerk for the Honorable Marlin Appelwick at the Washington State Court of Appeals. She highlights that her experience as a clerk allowed her to learn about appellate work, which is now the focus of her practice today.
While in law school, Mary was heavily involved with Moot Court, through which she gained a variety of practical courtroom experiences. Mary’s current practice often includes 6 to 12 arguments per year, and she attributes much of her success as an oral advocate to her experiences in Moot Court. In particular, she states that Moot Court allowed her to develop the skill of identifying weaknesses in her opposing party’s arguments.
In her current practice, Mary serves as court appointed counsel in criminal appeals. She also works in matters that involve involuntary commitment for illnesses, as well as parental rights restrictions. Her passion for criminal law stems from her coursework in law school, in addition to her experience as an intern at the ACLU of Washington where she performed various amicus work for criminal cases.
Mary is particularly proud of her work with the Washington Defender Association. Mary worked extensively with the WDA in State v. Mayfield (2020), a case that was assigned to her at the beginning of the appeal, which she then litigated all the way up to the Supreme Court. Through her work in Mayfield, Mary helped advance protective standards for Washington residents regarding privacy in the context of searches and seizures. Mary also has a passion for advancing laws that combat racial injustice within trials. She has observed many evolutions of such laws during her time as an attorney, and aims to continue to be an advocate for this issue throughout her career.
Outside of the courtroom, Mary loves outdoor activities including hiking, skiing, and trail running with her husband.
Mary encourages law students and young attorneys to not be afraid to make mistakes. Mistakes are an inevitable part of the legal practice, and she states that what’s most important is that we are able to own up to and address our mistakes as soon as possible. This advice, which Mary first received as a law clerk early in her career, continues to guide her today. She also encourages law students to explore various experiences outside of the classroom–whether it be through externships, Moot Court, or Law Review.
Washington Law Review would like to thank Mary Swift for her commitment to advancing equity through the practice of law.
