Graves & Swanson LLC partner Jacqueline "Jackie" Swanson emphasizes the provision of holistic representation to individuals seeking redress through the civil justice system. Her practice areas include personal injury, family law, and victims' rights law.
Jackie’s approach to representation involves identifying practical solutions to complex problems, while always considering the client’s interests and desires. This is true no matter if the end result concerns the pursuit of justice, the realization of a lifelong dream, or the simple need of a steady hand to help navigate a dark or difficult path.
Jackie has extensive experience representing survivors of rape, sexual assault, domestic violence, childhood sexual abuse, and victims of crime. Prior to attending law school, she worked as a sexual assault victim advocate in several non-profit community organizations. During this time, she witnessed first-hand the many ways that sexual violence can negatively impact various aspects of a person’s life, such as employment, education, housing, health and safety. Jackie’s work as a victim advocate thus inspired her to become a lawyer, and she has dedicated her legal career to providing assistance to victims of sexual and gendered violence seeking redress through the civil justice system.
Jackie has also dedicated hundreds of pro-bono hours to public policy work on behalf of survivors of sexual violence and victims of crime, both in Oregon and across the nation. For example, in 2015 and 2016, she and survivor Brenda Tracy advocated for successful extension of the Oregon criminal statute of limitations for first degree sex crimes. In 2016, Jackie wrote and proposed the initial draft of “Melissa’s Law,” which mandated rape kit testing across the state of Oregon. Jackie also helped pass the federal sexual assault survivors’ bill of rights, which passed out of Congress unanimously and was signed into law by President Obama in October 2016. In 2017, she helped pass a rape shield law for Oregon survivors seeking assistance through the civil justice system. In 2019, Jackie championed a bill which more than doubled the statute of limitations for adult survivors of sexual assault to bring a civil lawsuit in Oregon courts.
Jackie believes that survivors should have the ultimate right to decide the means, manner and method by which they respond to what happened to them. Persons who have been traumatized by sexual and domestic violence have unique needs and experiences, and Jackie strives to help her clients obtain and develop the resources they need to help rebuild their lives. As an attorney, Jackie utilizes the law to empower her clients to achieve the justice they deserve, while holding institutions and individual perpetrators accountable for their actions.
In her free time, Jackie enjoys baking, reading, wandering the aisles of Powell's Books, playing video games, spoiling her dog, and spending time with her family and friends.
AWARDS & RECOGNITION
• Best Lawyers Ones to Watch: Personal Injury, Best Lawyers, 2021-2023
• Rising Stars, SuperLawyers, 2021-2023
• Rising Star Award, Lewis & Clark Recent Graduate Council, 2017
• Kelly W.G. Clark Advocacy Award, Sparks of Hope, 2016
• Honorable Darleen Ortega Outstanding Mentor Award, Lewis & Clark Law School, 2015
• Writing Competition Grant Recipient, Oregon State Bar, 2013
• Certificate of Achievement: Non-Representational Pro-Bono Work, Lewis & Clark Law School, 2011 - 2013
• Certificate of Achievement: Community Service, Lewis & Clark Law School, 2012 - 2013
• Certificate of Achievement: Volunteer Hours Performed, National Crime Victim Law Institute, 2011
• Research Scholar, University of California San Diego, 2009
PRESENTATIONS & PUBLICATIONS
• Author: Revenge Porn: Legislative Updates, Oregon Trial Lawyer Magazine, Winter 2022
• Panelist: Lawyering and Vicarious Trauma, Willamette Law School, 2021
• Panelist: Dealing with Difficult Opposing Counsel, Oregon Trial Lawyer's Association, 2021
• Panelist: Sexual Abuse Litigation, Oregon Trial Lawyer's Association Annual Conference, 2020
• Presenter: Empowering Clients to Navigate Difficult Circumstances, Solo and Small Firm Executive Committee Retreat, 2019
• Presenter: Case Studies in Holistic Representation, Solo and Small Firm Practitioners Section CLE, 2019
• Panelist: Oregon’s Policy on Sexual Harassment, Bullying and Assault in our Schools: Is it Enough?, AAUW, 2018
• Panelist: Institutional Betrayal: Sexual Assault on Campus, Pacific Sociological Association, 2017
• Presenter: Victims' Rights in Practice, National Crime Victim Law Institute Clinic, 2016
• Panelist: Oregon Crime Victims' Rights, Lewis & Clark Law School Crime Victims’ Rights Alliance, 2016
• Legislative Review, Lewis & Clark Law School, 2016
• Panelist: Sexual Assault on College Campuses, Q&A Following Screening of the Hunting Ground, 2015
• Civil Remedies for Sexual Assault Survivors: A Holistic Approach to Legal Advocacy, National Crime Victim Law Conference, 2015
• Federal Crime Victims’ Rights, Washington Coalition of Crime Victim Advocates, 2012
• Stalking Protective Orders in Oregon: State v. Ryan on Review, National Crime Victim Law Conference, 2011
• Rape Culture in the Courtroom: A Critical Analysis of Patriarchal Jurisprudence, 22nd Annual UCSD Research Conference, 2009
