LOUIS L. NEAL, JR., ESQUIRE.

Why I Do This Work

As a lawyer, I chose a profession that is adversarial in nature.  The legal system is generally a “zero sum game” – someone will win and someone will lose.  Unfortunately, in some matters – particularly family matters but also in some civil matters, there are rarely “winners” because the decision-making process is taken out of the hands of the people who are most affected by it. I choose mediation because it offers empowerment to parties and an opportunity to “win” the future, and not just a moment that rarely addresses long-term relationships and other important concerns.

Mediation Experience

Louis has been a mediator and a trainer/coach with Mediation Matters for seven years.  He is currently the General Counsel at the Office of Administrative Hearing in the District of Columbia and the senior attorney mediator at the agency. Louis has specialized in and mediated hundreds of government-litigant disputes dealing with health care finance, for-hire vehicles, wage-hour claims, child support enforcement, landlord-tenant disputes and more.  Louis also mediates divorce and parenting cases, community/neighborhood disputes and other civil matters.

Professional Background

Louis holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from the University of Maryland at College Park, a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law and is a member of the District of Columbia Bar. Louis has  worked for years to help train others as mediators.

Louis is a native of Ocala, Florida, a former U.S. Marine, an avid fisherman, and a fitness enthusiast.  Louis has six adult children and he currently resides in Washington, D.C.