Mary Skjelset joined Allegiant Law in 2025, bringing a strong track record of legal victories for some of Oregon’s most vulnerable populations. Alongside her legal team, Mary has litigated landmark civil rights cases in Oregon that have protected the rights of children and families and shaped the state’s responsibility to people in its custody. Her skill and tenacity have achieved extraordinary outcomes for her individual clients, garnering repeated record-setting payouts for civil rights abuses. See A.G., et al v. Burrough, et al ($15 million settlement); J.M. et al. v. Major et al ($40 million settlement).  

Mary began her decades-long legal career as an advocate for children and families at Youth Rights and Justice, Oregon’s preeminent, nonprofit juvenile law firm. Her practice has evolved from administrative and school proceedings, juvenile court cases and clemency petitions to professional negligence matters and complex civil rights litigation, often in federal court.  In 2024, Mary had the honor of serving as co-class counsel for Oregon’s foster children in the Wyatt B. v. Kotek case, which culminated in a historic settlement aimed at transforming the foster system.

Mary’s calling and passion has been to amplify the voices of those rendered vulnerable by unjust systems and to empower her clients throughout the legal process. To do this, she meets her clients where they are, with trauma-informed practices and natural empathy. Ultimately, Mary strives to challenge assumptions about how society values the lives, safety and rights of historically marginalized individuals and communities, and to seek justice for all.

Outside of work, Mary prefers to spend time outdoors: skiing with her family, hiking with her friends, swimming in mountain lakes and hunting for mushrooms with the best dog on the planet.