About Attorney Mary Sofia
Mary Sofia is a criminal defense attorney based in Portland, Oregon. She grew up all over the United States and overseas, and she valued the opportunity to learn about different cultures and people. During high school, Mary focused on the performing arts and writing. After Mary finishing high school, Mary attended the University of Nevada, Reno where she studied creative writing, leadership, and criminal justice.
Inspired by her criminal justice courses, Mary moved to Portland, Oregon to obtain her law degree from Lewis & Clark Law School. Her commitment to constitutional law led Mary to her chosen career as a criminal defense attorney—protecting her clients’ rights in and out of the courtroom.
Mary gained invaluable trial experience litigating cases in front of judges and juries while working as a court-appointed lawyer. She spent years working closely with vulnerable clients, adults and juveniles, facing criminal prosecution. After close to a decade working for law firms and the Public Defender’s office, Mary branched out in 2019 to open Sofia Law LLC. Sofia Law LLC’s mission is to provide superior representation to clients facing criminal prosecution.
After over a decade doing this important work, Mary understands how stressful being criminally prosecuted is for her clients. She is dedicated to helping them navigate the process and obtain the best possible outcome. She is experienced at fighting the government in court and advocating for her clients, and she does it well. Her clients have described her as “poised, agile, and tenacious” in the courtroom, and her colleagues have described her as “a force to be reckoned with” and “an exceptionally talented attorney.” Mary is committed to obtaining the best possible outcome for her clients including dismissal of all charges if possible. Mary also understands how being convicted of a crime can impact a person’s life, and she also represents clients seeking to seal their criminal records through expungement.
Mary is licensed to practice law in Oregon.
Professional Memberships (Past & Present)
National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers | Member
Oregon Criminal Defense Lawyers Association | Member and Publications Committee Member
Oregon Women Lawyers (OWLS) | Member
Multnomah County Bar Association | Member
Washington County Bar Association | Member
Douglas County Bar Association | Member
Speaking Engagements
Juvenile Law Training Academy | Juvenile Justice Sentencing Reform: Requiring the Government to Treat Youths like Youths (2019)
Annual Juvenile Law Conference | Limiting the State's Power to Remove Children & Requiring the Recording of Juvenile Interrogations (2019)
Lewis & Clark Law School's Criminal Justice Reform Clinic | Legislative Advocacy in the Criminal Justice World (2019)
OCDLA's Annual Summer Conference 2019 | Legislative Update on Passing Juvenile Justice Reform & Fixing the Broken Public Defense System in Oregon (2019)
OCDLA's Annual Summer Conference 2018 | Changing the Law to Allow the Reinstatement of Parental Rights after Termination (2018)
OCDLA's Annual Summer Conference 2017 | Grand Jury Recording in Oregon and the Safety & Savings Act (2017)
Clackamas County Criminal Defense Bar Association Meeting| 2017 Legislative Update for the Clackamas Indigent Defense Consortium (2017)
Lewis & Clark Law School's Criminal Justice Reform Clinic | Legislative Advocacy in the Criminal Justice World (2017)
Douglas County Criminal Defense Bar Association | Representing Clients with Diminished Capacity (2014)
Douglas County Bar Association | How to comply with Rule 7: Information about Legal Services (2012)
Publications
The Oregon Defense Attorney Journal | From the Desk of Mary Sofia: An Update on HB 3145L Legislation to Fix the Broken Public Defense System (2019)
The Oregon Defense Attorney Journal | From the Desk of Mary Sofia: Short Session Success (2018)
The Oregon Defense Attorney Journal | From the Desk of Mary Sofia: Budget Update (2017)
Awards and Honors
2021 Rising Star | Super Lawyers Magazine
“I am pleased to announce that the 2021 Oregon Super Lawyers has honored me as a 2021 Super Lawyers Rising Star. This is my first time on the list, and I am excited to be recognized as one of the up-and-coming criminal defense attorneys under 40 years old with a stellar reputation. Only 2.5 % of Oregon attorneys receive the Rising Star distinction, and I am truly honored.” —Mary Sofia
2022 Top Attorney | Avvo
She’s a 10: Mary Sofia is consistently rated 5 out of 5 stars by clients year after year, landing her a spot on Avvo as a “Top Attorney” with a 10/10 ranking.