The law was a third career for Swift who began as a high school teacher of Latin and English and then followed a long term career in sales. His law career involved a specialized practice in Admiralty and Maritime Law which gained him experience in the Federal Courts. Along the way he also fell into civil rights controversies always involving Constitutional issues. He has appeared in cases in Australia, Mexico, Florida, Alaska, Louisiana, California, and Oregon and has argued successfully before the 9th Circuit. He was part of the team of lawyers that prosecuted the Judge Panner case in Medford.