MATTHEW M. HOUSE, J.D.
Mediator with a Mission
My experience as a child of divorce made me want to earn a law
degree to help children, teens, and adults. I
now use my background as a mediator and former teacher to help families
create positive change.
My education: I
have a Juris Doctor (law) degree from the University of Idaho College
of Law. At Idaho, I attended on a Non-Resident Full Tuition
Scholarship, and I was selected to the Dean's List. I specialized in
Family Law, and I was recognized seven times for the highest overall
performance in semester courses. Before law school, I earned a Bachelor
of Arts degree from the University of Oregon, where I majored in
Spanish and graduated magna cum laude.
My
experience: I have mediated for nine years, with a private practice since
2005. All of my cases involve marriage, divorce, and custody mediation.
Approximately 95% of my cases involve families with children; over 50%
involve families with teenage children. I am currently in discussions with a partner at a Portland law firm to teach a Continuing Legal Education seminar on the effects of custody battles on children.
My philosophy: When a couple is going
through marriage problems or divorce, the whole family is suffering
from those struggles. It is not an issue isolated to the husband and
wife. I meet with the entire family at least once (unless the clients
insist otherwise) and I meet with the children over the age of six in
each family. Child-centered solutions will always work for adults, but
adult-centered solutions will seldom work for children and teens.
My teaching: I have supervised seven mediation interns, including one at present. I have also addressed school audiences about peaceful conflict resolution, and I plan to do more such presentations throughout the remainder of 2011. My Teen Rally, on March 13, 2011 at PSU, aims to empower teenagers and call attention to problems in the juvenile justice system. | 
