Sarra Marie grew up in the Seattle area and graduated from the University of Washington in 2008. Her studies there focused on Law, Society, and Social Policy. During college, she was active in service activities that helped prepare her for a career defending the accused:
- Volunteered as a victim advocate with the King County Prosecutor’s Office.
- Delivered presentations on sexual assault awareness to other UW students.
- Served as secretary of her sorority.
- Toured with the Seattle Cascades Drum and Bugle Corps and rehearsed with Rhapsody Winterguard, a nationally-competitive dance group—work that honed her poise and comfort in front of an audience such as a jury.
After graduating, Sarra worked for three years as the Domestic Violence Victim Advocate for the Fleet and Family Support Center at Naval Station Everett. Recognizing her passion for advocacy, she decided to attend law school to become an advocate for those facing legal challenges.
Sarra attended law school at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she was again active in extracurricular activities:
- Competed in Mock Trial.
- Volunteered as a Senior Advocate at the Unemployment Appeals Clinic.
- Served as a Managing Articles Editor for the Wisconsin Journal of Law, Gender, and Society.
- Provided pro bono legal aid during spring break in disaster areas.
Sarra’s internships in the courts and the prosecutor’s office, along with her work in the Criminal Appeals Project, ignited her passion for criminal defense. They also showed her the unique challenges faced by individuals charged with sex offenses.
Following law school, Sarra returned to Seattle and served as a public defender for the next eight years. She represented clients across a wide range of charges, from misdemeanor trespass to aggravated murder and sex offenses. Sarra also supervised both lawyers and law student interns in the public defender’s office.
At Marshall & Saunders, Sarra applies her energy, passion, and expertise in defending the accused. Her clients receive both her compassion and her skilled and vigorous advocacy during some of the most difficult moments of their lives.
Bar Admission
Education:
- J.D., University of Wisconsin
- B.A., University of Washington, Sociology; Law, Society and Social Policy
