Stephen F. Sorensen

For most of my legal career, I have tried to solve problems without the need of litigation. I am more a negotiator than a litigator. I believe that legal representation always encompasses some form of counseling, and I have incorporated this element in my capacity as an attorney by practicing preventive law to avoid reactive law. As such, I have tried to assist my clients in problem solving as a means of achieving goals and resolving conflict without the need of litigation. I am passionate about the potential mediation holds for resolving conflict at all levels.

My philosophy of mediation is an interest-based approach. Mediation is a confidential facilitative process whereby the mediator, as a neutral, assists the parties in identifying the issues, understanding their interests, creating options, and establishing criteria to evaluate alternatives with the goal of reaching an agreement that resolves the conflict without coercion. Guiding the parties to make informed decisions and appropriate resolutions of conflict is paramount to the mediation practice.

I have been involved in differing venues of law practice encompassing contracts, construction claims, real estate, landlord-tenant, natural resources, employee benefits, labor management, and employee/employer relations. I have worked on complex issues with multiple parties, as well as with buyers and sellers, contractors and developers, management and union, and employer and employee. The variety of my practice offers many opportunities for the use of my mediation skills. 

Background
Experience
Stephen F. Sorensen has negotiated collective bargaining agreements, negotiated and mediated contract, employment, family, real estate, commercial, construction, landlord/tenant, neighborhood disputes, land use, natural resource development and public land law issues. His dispute resolution practice has included handling numerous labor grievances resolutions and labor arbitration hearings.Stephen is listed as an administrative hearing officer and arbitrator for the Alaska Department of Transportation. He has been selected as an administrative hearing officer for the Alaska Department of Transportation for contract claims. Stephen is listed as a hearing officer/arbitrator for the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development. He has been selected as an administrative hearing officer for due process claims.
Professional Background
  • Member of Association of Conflict Resolution
  • American Arbitration Association Certified Mediator
  • Member of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Section of the Alaska Bar Association Experience

Credentials
Degrees
  • BA Summa Cum Laude Anthropology & Sociology, University of Montana 1973
  • JD University of Montana Law School 1980
  • AAA Trained Certified Mediator 2006
  • Hearing Officer Training -- Seattle University, through its National Academy for IDEA Administrative Law Judges and Impartial Hearing Officers 2014

Training
2005        American Arbitration Association        Mediator Skills Training -- 40 hours
2006        Association for Conflict Resolution        Mediator/Arbitrator Skills Training -- 24 hours
2006        University of South Florida        Domestic Violence and Mediation Certificate
2006-2007        University of Washington School of Law        Northwest Dispute Resolution Conferences Skills Training -- 16 hours
2008        Zena Zumeta        Divorce & Custody Mediation Training -- 24 hours
2010-2011        University of Washington School of Law        Northwest Dispute Resolution Conferences Skills Training -- 16 hours
2011        Center for Appropriate Dispute Resolution in Special Education (CADRE)        5th National Symposium on Dispute Resolution in Special Education -- 23 hours
2012-2013        University of Washington School of Law        Northwest Dispute Resolution Conferences Skills Training -- 16 hours
2015        Labor Arbitration Institute        Labor Law & Labor Arbitration Conference -- 8 hours