"'I am the LORD your God, Who teaches you to profit, Who leads you by the way you should go.
Oh, that you had heeded My commandments! Then your peace would have been like a river, And your righteousness like the waves of the sea.’”
(Isaiah 48:17-18)
Backgrounds of Mediators at Peace Like A River Mediation Services, LLC
Respected Problem-Solvers | Experienced, Affordable & Available | No Cancellation Fees
Respected Problem-Solvers
Experienced, Affordable & Available
No Cancellation Fees
Stephen E. Garner, Esq.
Mediator
Educational Background
- West Georgia College, B.A.1979
- Mercer University, J.D. 1983
Bar Admission
- Georgia 1983
Legal Employment
- Partner: Murphy & Garner, LLC 1986-present
- Associate: Murphy & Murphy 1983-1986
Professional Organizations, Positions, and Honors
- State Bar of Georgia
- Christian Legal Society
- Member, American Association for Justice, f/k/a American Trial Lawyers Association 1982-2022
- Member, Georgia State Board of Workers’ Compensation Advisory Council, Legislative Subcommittee 1992-2013, Chairman 1992-2008
- Member Rules Sub-Committee 2020-present
- Member, Workers’ Compensation Claimants’ Lawyers Section of Georgia Trial Lawyers 1988-2022, Executive Committee Member 1988-2002, Chairman 1989
- Member, Georgia Trial Lawyers’ Association 1983-2022
- Member, National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives
- Governor’s Workers’ Compensation Review Commission 2001
- Governor’s Workers’ Compensation Advisory Commission 2002
- Former member of Kids’ Chance Board of Directors
- Member of the following State Bar sections: Workers’ Compensation, Tort and Insurance, ADR
- Certified Peace Sowers Instructor
- The Georgia Academy of Mediators and Arbitrators, A Chapter of the National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals
- AV Rating in Martindale-Hubbell
- Super Lawyers 2017-2022
Mediation Training
- Basic training course: Resolution resources 1999
- The Institute for Christian Conciliation, Conciliator Training Program 1999
- Pepperdine University School of Law, Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution Professional Skills Programs
- Protean Mediator as Leader
- Preventing Bad Settlement Decisions
- Best Practices for Remote Mediation
Professional Experience
Stephen has over 39 years of experience as a trial lawyer representing plaintiffs and claimants in a variety of personal injury, wrongful death, property damage, insurance, subrogation, social security, and workers’ compensation cases throughout the West Georgia and Metro Atlanta areas.
He has been lead counsel in approximately 1100 trials and hearings during his legal career. He has evaluated for settlement or trial approximately 3100 personal injury and workers’ compensation cases. He has participated as an attorney in mediating approximately 150 personal injury, wrongful death, and workers’ compensation cases.
As a mediator, he has successfully mediated approximately 1150 personal injury and workers’ compensation cases. He is registered with the Georgia Office of Dispute Resolution in General Civil Mediation.
He is the founder of Peace Like A River Mediation Services, LLC. He has taught biblical conflict resolution courses at several churches in the West Georgia area, and in January 2011, he taught a group of house church pastors in Cuba. Stephen is a frequent speaker at continuing legal education seminars relating to various topics in workers’ compensation, including subrogation, trial practice, and mediation.
Recent Presentations
- “Mediations: Successful Techniques And Techniques Effective Advocates Should Avoid,” presented on October 14, 2011, with Hon. Melodie Belcher, Chief ALJ, and Hon. Patricia M. Killingsworth, Workers’ Compensation Law Institute, St. Simons Island, GA
- “Mediation Magic: How to Snatch Settlement from the Jaws of a Looming Impasse,” presented March 29, 2012, State Board of Workers’ Compensation ALJ Seminar, Atlanta, GA
- “Making Mediations Work for You: Adjusting the Adjuster’s Perspective."
- What Will Be Your Legal Legacy? 101 Country Lawyer Lessons
- Lien On Me: It Ain’t Over ‘Til It’s Over
- Disagreeing Without Being Disagreeable: Dolphins, Sharks, and the People Who Swim with Them
- "Mediation: It's Not Just About the Money," presented on June 24, 2022, at Brotherhood Mutual Ins. Co.
Our helpful staff will be happy to assist you by scheduling your mediation today. Call us!
Steve Schneider values every opportunity to use his personal and professional life experiences to serve clients through mediation and conflict resolution processes. His life - and life's work - have together enabled and proven him to be personally relatable and trustworthy; emotionally stable and a calming influence under pressure; a pragmatic and critical thinker; and someone whose sincerity and self-discipline enhance his personal integrity.
Mr. Schneider respects the legal process and role of courts and judges while advocating for conflict resolution and mediation whenever possible. Mr. Schneider's 40-year professional career has taken him to all 50 American states and more than 30 foreign countries. His work has involved diverse roles including teaching for the Smithsonian Institution and universities; award-winning professional writing and photography; government service as Public Affairs Officer for the Maryland Forest, Park and Wildlife Service; senior executive positions with two $100+ million technology companies (Lowrance Electronics and Magellan Corp.); sales and marketing executive and consultant in high-end resort real estate development; service as a Patient Advocate and Chaplain for a leading regional health care system; and work as a staff pastor and counselor in a church setting.
He is a registered Neutral with the Georgia Office of Dispute Resolutions and trained in General and Civil, Domestic Relations, and Specialized Domestic Violence mediations.
Share On: