MEREDITH McKELL GRAFF, Esq., MA, JD
1508 Broadway Street Telephone: (360) 694-9947
Vancouver, Washington 98663 Facsimile: (360) 694-9925
Website: www.mckellgraff.com Email: Lawmer@mckellgraff.com
SKILLS AND ABILITIES
Founder and Managing Partner of family-issues based law firm (elder, family, juvenile); Represent clients’ legal issues in as court appointed attorney in juvenile dependency matters, represent private pay clients in estate planning, probate, and uncontested family law; Negotiate settlements in elder, couple, and family matters; and Mediate/Facilitate resolution of issues in the areas of family, elder, and juvenile. Office management, including staff supervision and associate attorney mentoring; accounts payable and accounts receivable; marketing; administrating daily activities, monitoring and management of physical space.
Conflict Resolution, Supervision/Management, Trainer/Teacher, Event Planner, Marketing, Writer (technical, creative, expository, grant), Public Speaker, Non-Profit Formation and Management Experience, Experience and Education in Insurance and Financial Planning. Organized, Focused, Optimistic, Compassionate, Pro-Active, Realistic and Pragmatic, Responsible.
BAR MEMBERSHIPS
Utah, Bar No. 8649, Admitted October 19, 1999
Utah Federal District Court, Admitted October 19, 1999
Washington, Bar No. 32358, Admitted June 20, 2002
Washington Federal District Court, Admitted July 23, 2003
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Law:
Since 03/03 FOUNDER & PARTNER (since 2011), ATTORNEY & MEDIATOR, McKELL GRAFF, PLLC, LEGAL & CONCILIATION SERVICES: Vancouver, WA.
07/02-03/03 ATTORNEY/MEDIATOR: Walstead Mertsching, P.S., Longview, WA.
08/99-07-02 FAMILY MEDIATOR/J.D. PARALEGAL: Steven Allen Smith, P.C., Portland, OR.
Academic:
01/94-08/95 ADJUNCT PROFESSOR, Weber State University, English Department (Persuasive Writing, Introduction to Writing)
09/94-03/95 ADJUNCT PROFESSOR, Salt Lake Community College, Humanities Department (Introduction to Writing)
08/90-08/92 ADJUNCT PROFESSOR, Rutgers Law School, Newark, NJ, Director of Legal Writing Workshop program.
06/90-08/90 INSTRUCTOR, CUE Institute, Elizabeth, NJ (English as a Second Language).
06/90-12/90 ADJUNCT PROFESSOR, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ, English Department (Introduction to Writing, Writing About Literature)
06/90-09/90 ADJUNCT PROFESSOR, University of Medicine and Dentistry, Newark, NJ, Allied Health Program (Basic Writing).
Insurance:
06/93-12/93 UNDERWRITER (Auto), Prudential Property and Casualty, Holmdel, NJ (short-term project)
03/93-06/93 FINANCIAL SERVICES PRODUCER, Mutual Life Insurance Company of New York (“MONY”), Red Bank, NJ.
02/91-03/93 SALES MANAGER, FINANCIAL SERVICES PRODUCER, Prudential Insurance Company, Newark and Matawan, NJ.
Non Profits:
01/2015 - - FOUNDER, BOARD CHAIR, “SW Washington Second Saturday” - Divorce Workshop for Women, Vancouver, WA.
05/96-05/98 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, “Children of the Wolf”, Salt Lake City, UT.
12/93-09/94 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, “PEACE (Protect the Earth and Atmosphere Charitable Endowment)” (non-profit organization), Salt Lake City, UT.
Education:
J.D., UNIVERSITY OF UTAH COLLEGE OF LAW, 1998
Focus: Estate Planning/Elder/Family, Mediation
M.A., RUTGERS UNIVERSITY, Graduation with Honors, 1990.
Major: Creative Writing Poetry
B.A., LORETTO HEIGHTS COLLEGE, Graduation with Honors, 1984.
Major: Women's Studies
CONTINUING EDUCATION PRESENTER
“Mediation as a Spiritual Practice: The Values we Bring to our Work,” Washington Mediation Assocation Fall Conference, October 25, 2016.
“Mediation in Family Law,” Clark County Bar Association, Nuts and Bolts Series, 2015.
“Tapping into Reiki Energy to Bring Peace to Your Practice and Your Life,” 2011 Association for Conflict Resolution Spirituality Section Rocky Mountain Retreat, St. Malo Retreat, CO.
“Communication Skills Training,” 2008 WSBA Lawyer Assistance Program Annual Conference, Lake Chelan, WA.
“How to Use Mediation in Divorce,” 2007 Clark County Family Law Section Conference, Vancouver, WA.
“The Ethics of Collaborative Practice,” 2006 Collaborative Family Law Basic Training, sponsored by Collaborative Family Law Professionals of Oregon, Portland, OR.
CERTIFICATIONS
Lifecycle Celebrant certified in Funerals, and Ceremonies for Healing through Celebrant Foundation and Institute (trained to create custom, personalized ceremonies), 4/2014.
Registered Title 26 Guardian ad Litem for Clark County Superior Court, 2009 – 2011 (private appointments thereafter).
Certified Mediator (initially certified in family law), Washington Mediation Association, 2009 - present.
Certified Mediator, Mediate.com.
SPECIALIZED TRAININGS
Community Changemakers Training, Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce, 2016.
Twilight Brigade, Volunteer Hospice Volunteer training, 5/2013.
Title 26 Guardian ad Litem training, June 12-14, 2009, Clark County Bar Association.
Reiki Master/Teacher, April, 2009.
Reiki I, March, 2008; Reiki II, April, 2008
Collaborative Law Trainings: 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
Mediation Trainings: 1983 (Basic and Advanced), 1996-1997 (during law school)
AWARDS, AFFILIATIONS, LICENSES, COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
HONORS: Avvvo.com “Superb” 10.0 Rating in Family Law/Vancouver, WA, 2010 to present; Family Law Attorney of the Year, 2009 by Cambridge Who’s Who; Martindale-Hubbell Peer Rated Attorney: CV (less than five years of practice), awarded in 2008 based on peer ratings for 2003-2007 family law practice in Clark County, Washington; Clark County Volunteer Lawyers Program Volunteer of the Year, 2005; Washington Women Lawyers Chapter Member of the Year, 2004.
MEMBER: American Bar Association, Washington Bar Association; Utah Bar Association, Clark County Bar Association, Association for Conflict Resolution (formerly Society for Professionals in Dispute Resolution), Washington Mediation Association, Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce, Accredited Business with Better Business Bureau.
BOARD MEMBERSHIPS: Current - Washington Mediation Association, 2016-2022 (Board Secretary, 2019-2022; Certification Committee Chair, 2017-2020); Women Entrepreneurs Organization of SW Washington, 2017-2018.
Past - Clark County Bar Association/Family Law Section, Secretary, 2012-2013; Clark County Bar Association/Family Law Section, Treasurer, 2011-2012; Clark County Bar Association/Family Law Section, President, 2007-08, Clark County Bar Association/Family Law Section Committee Liaison, 2004-05; Southwest Washington Collaborative Professionals, President (and founder), 2006-09; Simpson American Inns of Court, Treasurer, 2006-08, Historian, 2008-2010; Washington Women Lawyers, St. Helens Chapter, Membership Chair, 2005-05, Co-President, 2004-05, Vice-President, 2005-08; Cowlitz-Wahkiakum Legal Aid Program Board member, 2002-05; Cowlitz-Wahkiakum Bar Association, Secretary, 2002-03.
VOLUNTEER LAWYER: Current – Pro bono document preparation for court appointed clients in juvenile dependency matters for family law matters necessary to dismiss the juvenile dependency matters (including, but not limited to third party custody, dissolution, parentage/parenting plan, modification of parenting plans, declaration of invalidity, among other things).
Past - Clark County Volunteer Lawyer Program (Advice Clinic, Paperwork Clinic, Homeless Clinic, pro bono representation), 2003 - 2012); Cowlitz-Wahkiakum Legal Aid Program (dissolution workshops, pro bono representation), 2003-2005.
PHI ALPHA DELTA (Legal Fraternity): Acting District Justice, Region 1 (OR, WA, ID, MT, AL) 1999; Justice: 1996-97, Clerk: 1997-98 for George Sutherland Chapter (University of Utah College of Law).
NOTARY PUBLIC: Washington 2014-2018, 2010-2014, 2006-2010, 2002 - 2006, Oregon 1999- 2003, Utah 1996-2000, New Jersey 1987-1992, 1992-1997.
NON-LAW LICENSES: NASD Series 6, Insurance licenses in Life, Health, Property/Casualty (New Jersey 1991 - 1995).
NON-LEGAL VOLUNTEER WORK: Milo Andrus Family Organization Wife Line Representative (2009 -2012: replacing my father who was killed 5/2009); Susan G. Komen Race/Walk for the Cure (Salt Lake City, UT, 2006; Portland, OR, 2003 to present); Avon Walk for Breast Cancer (Portland, OR, 2004); MS (Multiple Sclerosis) Walk (Salt Lake City, UT, 1998; Portland, OR, 1999); Utah Dispute Resolution, volunteer mediator (Salt Lake City, UT, 1997-1998), Utah Legal Services, volunteer paralegal, law clerk (Salt Lake City, UT, 1994-1998), Senior Lawyer Volunteer Project, volunteer law clerk (non-profit subsidiary of Utah Legal Services) (Salt Lake City, UT, 1996-1998).
BLOOD DONOR: 3.5 gallons over 23 years.
PUBLICATIONS
“The Red Jeep,” in Signs of Spirit, edited by Roland Comtois. Llewellyn Publications, Woodbury, MN, 2019.
“Important Information for People Contemplating Divorce,” “Reiki Energy Healing and Divorce,” “How to Waste Money in a Divorce!” Avvo.com, 2011.
“How to Cope Emotionally During Your Divorce,” and “What to do if You Can’t Afford an Attorney,” Avvo.com, 2010.
“The Judge Said No” (March/April 2006). The Bencher. 17.
“Babel in the Wilderness: The Rhetoric of Sufficiency/Release and Excepted Activities,” in Contested Landscape: The Politics of Wilderness in Utah and the West. The University of Utah Press. Salt Lake City, UT. 1999.
Mishpocheh: Stories About My Family. Masters degree (Creative Writing Poetry) thesis, Rutgers Graduate School of English, 1990.
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