Legal Experience
Brit Mercer Law, Seattle, Washington, Owner, September 2015 – present
- Extensive jury trial and pre-trial practice serving all types of criminal defense matters, ranging from serious felony matters to misdemeanor cases in courts throughout Washington state. Practice largely made up of misdemeanor cases, DUI and vehicular assault/homicide and domestic violence matters. Lead counsel in hundreds of cases, including significant jury trial experience.
Schroeter, Goldmark & Bender, Seattle, Washington, Of Counsel, January 2011 – April 2021
- Significant jury trial experience ranging from Aggravated First Degree Murder to DUI. Lead counsel through verdict in 30+ jury trials. Conducted hundreds of administrative hearings before the Department of Licensing. Represented both petitioners and respondents in anti-harassment and protection order hearings. Experience handling all aspects of motions practice.
The Law Firm of Steve Rosen, Seattle, Washington, Attorney, 2009 – 2010
- Lead counsel in a multitude of criminal defense matters in jurisdictions throughout Washington. Managed every aspect of client matters, from in-court litigation to administrative tribunals. Conducted multiple jury trials in district and municipal court.
Bradley Johnson Attorneys, Seattle, Washington, Attorney, 2002 – 2009
- Handled hundreds of criminal defense cases in district, municipal, federal, and superior courts. Performed hundreds of Dept. of Licensing hearings. Lead counsel in bench and jury trials.
Professional Activities
Washington Foundation for Criminal Justice: President, member 2013 - present
- Frequent speaker at annual CLE to 300+ attorneys
- Contributing Author of Amicus brief in State v. Quaale, decided December 2014 by Washington State Supreme Court
Super Lawyers/Top Women Attorneys in Washington: Selected, 2021
- Top 5% of all attorneys in Washington, selected by research, peer nominations and peer reviews
Washington Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers: Past Vice-President and Executive Committee member, June 2009 – present
- Member since 2002; Treasurer, 2011 – 2013; Secretary, 2013 – 2015; Vice President 2015 – 2016; Liaison to King County Bench Bar Committee, June 2011 – present; Jury Diversity Task Force 2014 – 2016
Washington State Bar Association: Admitted, October 2002 – present
- Recipient of “Random Acts of Professionalism Award”, July 2006
United States District Court, Western District of Washington: Admitted, April 2003 – present
Washington Law and Politics: Awarded, “Rising Star” – 2005, 2008 – 2015
Seattle Met Magazine: Selected, “Top Women Lawyers” – 2014, 2021
Washington Women Lawyers: Member, 2006 – present
- Judicial Evaluation Committee, September 2013 – present
Gerry Spence Regional Trial Lawyer College: Graduate, March 2004
Selected Speaking Engagements
National College for DUI Defense – CLE Presentations
- Summer Session 2019- DUI Trials from Voir Dire to Verdict – “Doing Your Best to Find the Worst: The Art of Jury De-Selection” at Harvard University
- Summer Session 2021- Defense Ideas Worth Spreading – “How to Translate Expert Testimony for a Jury”
Washington State Bar Association – CLE Presentation
- The ABCs of DUIs, 2021 – “The Basics of DOL Hearings”
Washington Defender Association – CLE Presentations
- Trial Advocacy Training – Visual Aids and Demonstrative Evidence in the Courtroom, 2014
- DUI Strategies for Defense, 2011 – “Diagramming a Complete Sentence: Making Your Client Shine at Sentencing”
- Ethics 2010: Goals, Tactics and Client-Centered Representation, 2010 – “Unique Issues in Representing Mentally Ill Persons”
- Basics of DUI Defense, 2007 – “DUI Sentencing and Deferred Prosecutions”
Washington Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers – CLE Presentation
- Discovery: It's Elementary, 2010 – “Pre-trial Litigation as a Discovery Tool”
Whatcom County Bar Association – CLE Presentation
- “The Ethics of Social Media: Avoiding Issues in Uncertain Territory”, 2016
Seattle University School of Law – CLE Presentation
- The Science and Law of DUI, 2016 – “DUI Case Law and Legislative Update”
King County Department of Public Defense – CLE Presentation
- “Hearings and Interlocks: Helping Your Clients Navigate the DOL”, 2019
Washington Foundation for Criminal Justice – Annual DUI CLE Presentations
- Defending DUIs, 2018 – “Engaging or Excruciating? Making Expert Testimony Interesting”
- Defending DUIs, 2017 – “Plea Negotiations: Negotiations from a Different Perspective”
- Defending DUIs, 2015 – “Save Your Client and Your Reputation”
- Defending DUIs, 2014 – “Voir Dire: Modifying the Colorado Method for DUI Cases”
- Defending DUIs, 2012 – “Devil in the Details: Dealing with the Department of Licensing”
Education
University of Washington School of Law, Seattle, Washington
Juris Doctor, June 2002
- University of Washington Child Advocacy Clinic: Represented eight children in dependency matters; lead counsel in a guardianship dependency trial and obtained desired result for juvenile client
- Member - Innocence Project Northwest
University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with minor in Society and Justice, cum laude, June 1999
- Overall Undergraduate GPA: 3.80/4.00
- Phi Beta Kappa
- Other Selected Honors: Golden Key National Honor Society; Phi Sigma Alpha (national political science honor society); Phi Eta Sigma (national undergraduate honor society); National Dean's List 1995-1999; University of Washington Dean's List, 12 of 12 quarters
- Member: Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority – Alpha Lambda Chapter
Selected Activities
National Champion Equestrian: 30+ Years of Riding/Competing, 1980 – present
- Qualified for, and participated in, twelve World and National Championship Equestrian competitions, resulting in several national titles and accolades
- Six-time Champion Adult Amateur/Amateur Owner for Washington State Hunter and Jumper Association and Oregon Hunter Jumper Association
- World Champion Hunter Rider, Adult Amateur/Amateur Owner – 2006, 2007, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2020
El Centro de la Raza: Past legal clinic volunteer
Seattle Clemency Project: Volunteer attorney
Innocence Project: Volunteer attorney
YMCA Youth & Government Mock Trial Competition: Volunteer judge and coach
Recommendations
- Brit is one of those hard-nosed litigators that prosecutors dread. As a fellow attorney, I can say that she is on my short-list of lawyers that I would allow to represent me if I ever need legal help.
- I endorse this lawyer. Briteney is an excellent attorney. She is intelligent, articulate, and very persuasive as she fights hard to get great results for her clients i.e. dismissals, reductions, not guilty verdicts. She is well-liked and personable and she has great rapport with judges, prosecuto...
- Brit is a fierce advocate who gets great results for her clients. She is smart, hardworking, and her clients love her. I endorse her work without hesitation.
- As a prosecutor for the King County Prosecutor's Office I handled a case in which Briteney was opposing counsel. Briteney struck me as a very caring and zealous advocate for her client. She met with me frequently to discuss the case and was always prepared and well-versed on both the facts of the...
- Brit is the definition of a no-nonsense advocate. She takes her work, and thus your case, very seriously and absolutely will not stand for anything other than justice in your case. Brit is not only keeps herself current with the state of the law, but she helps to form the state of the law. Whethe...
- Brit gets my highest endorsement. I had the chance to work with her in connection with a case involving a teenager. Brit quickly established trust with the young client, and she navigated exceptionally well the sometimes complicated interactions involving the client's parents. Ultimately, she obt...
- I have worked with Brit as opposing counsel on many occasions and found her to be a smart, savvy opponent. I would recommend her to anyone looking for an excellent advocate for their case.
- I have known Briteney for several years and have the utmost respect for her. She is extremely knowledgeable, and thought of very highly by judges, prosecutors, and the defense bar. While she often handles terribly difficult cases, she routinely manages to reach outstanding resolutions. She is the...
- I had never experienced anything greater than a speeding ticket when it came to dealing with the law. Just over a year ago I went through the worst experience of my life, I was arrested and charged with a criminal act. I was trying to get out of an abusive and controlling relationship with the mo...
- I was going through a hard time, like most who need a lawyer. I actually found Brit through a search and decided to give her a call. I was able to meet and discuss the case in person quickly. I went to my court hearing just expecting another continuance or to go to trial, and she told me that she...
- Briteney Mercer helped me through an intensely difficult time in my life. She was tough, knowledgeable, candid and organized. But, she was also compassionate, non-judgmental, and easy to talk to. This was an embarrassing, painful event for me. I made a silly mistake and drove after consuming alco...
- I was referred to Briteney after a less than positive experience with a different attorney that was going nowhere with my case unless I called them. I made one call to Brit and that was all it took. After a very complete and thorough first meeting she took absolute control and was always there to...
- Briteney Mercer is an excellent attorney. She is the type of person that makes you feel at ease in a stressful situation. I recently received my second DUI and was the most stressed I've been in as long as I can remember. The first day I met with Brit I felt like a huge weight was lifted off my s...
- I'm not going to mince words. I did a lot of research. I had two DUI's within about 12 months, and I was prepared for the worst. Brit did MORE than their share and in return I did mine. I found a non-profit I deeply care for and I learned a lot about what it meant to be dependent on someone whose...
- I can't imagine a better lawyer to get me through my DUI problems. I was referred to Briteney by my father's attorney and immediately knew she was the right choice. She explained everything that we'd be going through and was always great about keeping in touch or providing me with answers wheneve...
- Brit is simply the best! I hired Brit in connection for DUI, it was my first offense. I was scared, nervous and felt overwhelmed. When I say Brit is the best, I do not use that phrase lightly. Brit was amazing to say the least. She was the lifeline I needed. Trying to figure where to even start t...
- I received a DUI 2 years ago and hired Brit to represent me as my attorney after interviewing 5 candidates. It was a very scary time for me, with no prior convictions this incident had turned my life upside down. Brit was great at explaining each step of the way in great detail so that I was able...
- Briteney was recommended to me by a mutual friend when I was arrested for a DUI. She made time for me right away for a consultation where I found her empathetic, understanding and incredibly helpful when it came to letting me know my options. She gave me all of the facts, gave advice when she cou...
- Brit lays it all out fit you, she walks you through everything so you understand exactly what is going on. She doesn't sugarcoat what the possibilities are, but she also stays upbeat and her confident, calm manner always a assures you that she will get you the absolute best result possible. You c...
- I would like to start off by saying how blessed I am to have had Ms. Mercer represent me in a court of law. Ms. Mercer is very passionate at what she does. That was the feeling I got instantly the moment I met her. She will work very hard to get the best outcome for you. She cares about her clien...
- I was extremely fortunate to be referred to Ms Mercer during a very challenging period in my life. Her substantive and procedural legal knowledge and skills could only be described as impressive, and are evenly matched by the very human and compassion manner in which she related to me. She was ap...
- The day after my DUI arrest was a terrible one. I was scared, shamed, and felt worse about myself than ever before. Briteney Mercer was referred to me by another attorney, and from the very first communication I knew I was in good hands. Aside from the SUPERB outcome Briteney's expertise and dili...
- I contacted Brit after a friend gave me her name immediately after a DUI arrest. As soon as I met with her, I felt a sense of relief and comfort as she was able to offer specifics about my charge and possible outcomes. I immediately hired her on the spot. She then helped me be as proactive as pos...
- Brit did a great job. I recommend her without reservation. The prosecutor outright dismissed the assault charges due to the powerful evidence of self-defense that Brit skillfully, patiently, doggedly and persuasively presented. She's great.
- Briteney Mercer, my attorney, has been so helpful throughout my 6-month ordeal. I could not have gotten through this without her. From the beginning, she answered all of my questions and calmed my fears. She guided me throughout the driver's license process. She suggested proactive measures that ...
- I cannot express how grateful I am for having chosen Brit Mercer to represent me in what is truly a life challenging situation, Brit made every situation the best it could be. Her caring demeanor, confidence, strength and expertise are exemplary. She is someone I highly respect and her profession...
- Brit was recommended to us by a friend of a friend who was a law professor-- she defended me in a case where I was arrested for filming a climate activist, where I did not myself break any laws, but was put in jail charged with 3 felonies with a penalty of over 30 years of jail time. As you can i...
- The day after my DUI arrest was a terrible one. I was scared, shamed, and felt worse about myself than ever before. Briteney Mercer was referred to me by another attorney, and from the very first communication I knew I was in good hands. Aside from the SUPERB outcome Briteney's expertise and dili...
- Brit represented me for a DUI charge. Although she got the charge reduced and guided me through the legal process with astonishing legal expertise, what really set her apart was her willingness to listen/advise on my personal life that was affected by the charge. She was an emotional and legal gu...
- I was arrested for a hit and run that I did not think I committed. The experience of being arrested created a kind of identity vertigo -- I had always thought if arrested it would be for a protest of some kind, not an act of presumed cowardice. Brit returned my call as she was getting on an airpl...