Her Story
About Marcia
Marcia McCraw has spent more than four decades building a legal career defined by adaptability, precision, and an enduring curiosity about the world beyond the courtroom. Since earning her Juris Doctor from Western New England University School of Law in 1981, she has held bar admissions in New York, California, Hawaii, and Washington State — requalifying in each new jurisdiction as she relocated throughout her career. Today she serves as Founder and Managing Attorney of US-China Legal Services in Seattle, where she draws on decades of experience in real estate, commercial transactions, corporate governance, and regulatory compliance across industries ranging from resort and hospitality to aviation and assisted living.
Long before she became a practicing attorney, Marcia's fascination with China took root at Cornell University, where she majored in Asian Studies and immersed herself in Mandarin, Chinese art history, and Chinese political science. That passion carried her to Taiwan, where she studied Mandarin at Shih Fan College and served as lead rower on the first American women's dragon boat team in Taipei, and later to the University of Hong Kong, where she conducted independent research on maritime arbitration and international tax law in China. These early experiences abroad became the foundation for a legal specialty that would later bridge U.S. and Chinese business interests, work she continues through her own firm.
Beyond her legal practice, Marcia has been an active civic leader, serving as Board Chair and President of the Junior League of Seattle and as a member of the Weizmann Institute of Science's Washington State Board of Directors, in addition to her appointment to a term with the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. She currently volunteers with the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation in support of NOAA's marine parks. Guided by a philosophy of efficiency, persistence, and openness to new technology, Marcia continues to take on select legal matters while mentoring the next generation of professionals to seize opportunities and never be deterred from the path they choose.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Marcia
01What do you attribute your success to?
I credit my success to staying as efficient as possible in everything I do, keeping myself healthy and focused, and being willing to embrace new technology rather than resist it. Persistence has also been essential — I've made a habit of continually seeking out opportunities and not letting occasional discouragement or rejection slow me down.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice is to grasp every opportunity that comes your way and never let anyone push you off the path you've chosen for yourself. I moved frequently to follow my husband's career and had to requalify for the bar in a new state each time, so I learned to seek out opportunities directly — even if that meant going door-to-door and volunteering to get my foot in the door. I'd also encourage the next generation to break complicated tasks into manageable pieces and to embrace technology as a way to work more efficiently.
03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the ongoing challenges in my field is that it remains a male-dominated profession, and relocating repeatedly added its own layer of cultural and professional adjustment each time. At the same time, I see real opportunity in the adoption of legal technology, including AI-assisted tools, which can make our work more efficient and open up new capabilities we didn't have before.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Being fully present in whatever I'm doing matters a great deal to me, as does maintaining my health and fitness. Efficiency and persistence guide how I approach my work, and I make a point of embracing useful technology whenever it can help me do things better.
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