Alexander Law is a Beaverton firm offering family mediation and collaborative law services. The company prides itself on "guiding families through gentle divorces or separations out of court" and also handles cases of child custody and support, paternity, and asset and liability distribution. Mediation is available in person and via web conference. The firm offers competitive hourly rates and accepts payment plans and credit cards.
Erica C. Glaser has been working as an arbitrator and mediator for the past eight years and as an attorney in Portland for 23 years. Glaser has represented clients in many arbitration hearings. She is a professional neutral who serves in UM and UIM arbitration panels. As a proud member of the National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals, she has hundreds of successful mediations under her name. Erica Glaser graduated from The University of Oregon Law School.
Bennett Hartman Morris & Kaplan is a Portland law firm that has been "working hard for hard-working people since 1906." The firm features a "collaborative team of attorneys, united by a shared belief in justice." Practice areas include labor law, employment law, social security disability law, workers' compensation, family law, and estate planning. The company also provides mediation and arbitration services to resolve disputes out of court.
Dwyer Mediation & Law in Portland "provides the highest quality conflict resolution and legal services to families and individuals." Attorney J. Michael Dwyer was voted 2017's "Lawyer of the Year" in family law mediation in the Portland area by The Best Lawyers in America. He is a certified mediator who provides a "safe and sane place to discuss difficult issues in a civil, respectful, and adult-like manner." Mediation services are $350 per hour.
Forrest Collins, PC is a Lake Oswego "attorney-mediator who is dedicated to resolving" clients' cases "outside of court in a respectful, cost-effective way." Primary practice areas are divorce mediation, uncontested divorce, and collaborative law. Attorney Collins has received a Superb rating of 10 on Avvo and a Clients' Choice Award for mediation in 2015.
Heinson & DeDobbelaere is a "little firm" with a "big name" in Clackamas. Practice areas include business law, injury and claims, wills and probate law, and arbitration and mediation. The firm's mediation services are described in client testimonials as helpful and as opening up conversations between parties.
Paikea Mediation is a Portland company offering mediation, coaching, training, and group facilitation services. The company's divorce mediator understands mediation as a "mindful process by which people can end their marriage or committed relationship" and as a "self-directed, voluntary process" where the mediator serves as a neutral third party to facilitate difficult conversations.
Ron Rhodes Mediation & Arbitration is a Portland company that can "open the door to the right solution" through clear communication. Ron Rhodes has 30 years of experience as a trial lawyer, and in 2007 focused his practice exclusively on mediation and arbitration. A full-day mediation costs $3,600 plus $350 per hour for any excess hours. A half-day mediation is $1,900 plus $350 per hour for any excess hours. Preparation work is included in these fees.
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Mediation is an alternative to going to trial during legal disputes. The parties on both sides agree to work with an impartial third party who oversees discussions concerning the matter in dispute. The goal and hope of mediation is to come to a settlement or compromise that is agreeable to both parties. The mediator doesn't represent either party but works with both to help ensure that discussions are civil and agreements are as fair as possible given the situation. In many cases, if mediation fails, then the parties can move on to a trial in court.
Arbitration is another alternative to a court trial, but it's a bit more formal than mediation. During the arbitration, evidence and testimony is presented to a panel of people who act as judges of sorts. They issue an opinion about the matter in writing, and depending on how the arbitration was entered into, it may or may not be binding. If it's binding, the parties must accept and abide by the decisions of the arbitrators. Commonly, each side selects a third-party arbitrator, and each of those people selects a third person.
Arbitration and mediation both have pros and cons, and which one is right for you depends on your personal preferences, legal goals, and the details of your case. Mediation can offer more control, and because of that, those who go through it tend to report a higher level of satisfaction. But arbitration is more formal and may provide a more structured environment, which may be needed if civil discussions aren't possible.
If you can choose a mediator or arbitrator, it's critical to look for a neutral third party. Someone who is in any way tied to either side or who might have a known strong opinion on matters related to the case may not be the best option. Legal knowledge is important for mediators and arbitrators, but arbitrators should also have court experience. Retired or former judges or trial lawyers may be good choices for arbitrators, for example.
An arbitration agreement waives your right to seek legal remedies in court under certain circumstances, specifically, if you and the other party have unresolved disputes. You submit to binding arbitration over all matters, which can be somewhat risky as arbitration agreements are usually requested by companies that have arbitration processes set up, and those processes may not be impartial.
Mandatory arbitration occurs when someone is forced to use arbitration as a means of settling an issue. One of the most common scenarios for this is employment. Employers may require that employees sign an arbitration agreement before they can begin work. The employees then give up some rights to go to court over certain employment issues.
During a child custody mediation, the mediator will likely encourage each party to focus on the needs of the child or children. The parties work together to agree on custody. They typically won't discuss matters of child support, marital property, or other factors of the divorce—unless the mediation is for the whole divorce. If you are attending mediation, it is advised to come prepared to discuss what's in the best interest of your children and situation, but also be prepared to reach a compromise.
