Moscow attorney Jennifer Ewers discussed "The Benefits of Mediation in High Conflict Family Law Cases" at the League of Women Voters of Moscow forum noon-1 p.m. Wednesday (Jan. 24 ) in the Fiske Room of Moscow's 1912 Community Center. This presentation addressed the benefits of mediation versus litigation in family law cases. The conventional litigation process is predicated on an adversarial “win-lose” model in which it is assumed that the parties must fight against each other for their “rights.” Even when the parties believe their intentions are reasonable, their lawyers’ job in the litigation process is to fight for their respective clients’ interests, which often results in the parties’ focusing on doing as much damage to the other as possible. Their children are put in the middle and unintentionally made victims of their parents’ battle. Evidence is clear that conflict between parents has a long-term damaging impact on children who are dealing with their parents' divorce. In contrast to litigation, mediation contains the conflict between parents, focuses the parties on what is best for their children and allows disputing parents to resolve their differences in a less adversarial manner that minimizes their children’s exposure to conflict.

Jennifer Ewers is licensed to practice law in Idaho and Washington. She earned a Bachelor of Arts from Seattle University in 1986, and her law degree from the University of Washington College of Law in 1990. Jennifer was a general practitioner in King County for six years before opening a solo practice in Moscow in 1997. She and her family moved to Moscow to enjoy the cultural benefits of a small college community and to become more involved in community activities and programs.

For more than 20 years, she has represented clients as an advocate in family law cases involving child custody and support, property and debt division, and other family law matters. She has also acted as Guardian Ad Litem for minors and persons with disabilities in guardianship cases, and for children in child protection cases, and has represented parents and children in private adoptions. Jennifer has advocated for her clients in court, in settlement negotiations, and in attorney-assisted mediation.

Ewers is also a family law mediator, and is certified by the Idaho Supreme Court as a child custody mediator. Jennifer is an ardent believer in the benefits of mediation, and particularly views mediation as the most effective forum for resolution of family law disputes. Jennifer offers mediation services in the areas of divorce, child custody, child support, and other family issues.

Part 1