LOS ANGELES—The next time someone tells you porn stars have to rely on their physical assets to compensate for what's lacking upstairs, mention Heather Swift, who performed in approximately six titles from 2012 to this year under the name Holly Price. In addition to her work in adult movies and as a stripper, the self-described former porn star is distinguished for having passed the California bar exam the first time she took it.
Most people probably do not comprehend just how impressive an acheivement that is. According to Above the Law, becoming a lawyer in the Golden State is harder than in any other state in the union. "As we mentioned this morning," wrote Staci Zaretsky today for the site, "the California bar exam had one of its lowest pass rates in almost a decade. Just 48.6 percent of test-takers passed the exam, which is quite unfortunate.
"The Los Angeles Times notes that the pass rate for July 2014 represents nearly a 7 percentage point dip from July 2013’s pass rate," she added. "The last time less than half of bar examinees passed, it was 2005."
But one of the ones who did pass was Swift, a 2013 graduate of ABA-accredited Western State University College of Law, who, per IAFD.com, started performing in adult in her early 30s, working for Brazzers, Bang Productions and Pure Play Media in titles such as Girly Girls Like It Rough (2012), Seduced by a Cougar 25 (2013) and Real Wife Stories 17 (2014).
"I took the July 2014 California Bar Exam (my first time taking any bar exam), and I PASSED," Swift told Above the Law by email. "No, I did not get time and a half, nor do I have any inside connections to the California State Bar. …
"How did I do it," she continued. "Because unbeknownst to many, women in the adult industry are intelligent and can matriculate through a cutthroat tier 3 law school, and pass the hardest bar exam in history ... Perhaps society needs to relinquish stereotypes and overcome their jealousy."
She added at the end of her email, "As for those who snicker at women in the adult industry and who couldn’t pass the exam, stop laughing because a stripper porn star is apparently smarter than you."
Above the Law, rather than put off by Swift's feisty demeanor, expressed its admiration. "Heather Swift is a girl after our own hearts: she’s sassy, classy, and a bit smart-assy," wrote Zaretsky. "We wish her the best of luck in her new life as a lawyer. She’s already one step ahead of the game in that she’s already screwed people for a living, and she’ll perform her services even better if a client makes it rain. Any law firm would be lucky to have her."
Image: Heather Swift, courtesy of AbovetheLaw.com.
