About Us
Robert W. Bates - Mediator
In the past I have practiced as an insurance defense attorney in large firms as well as a sole practitioner attorney representing individual clients. My formal law practice of representing clients in civil litigation was effectively closed in November 2010 and my last legal work representing a client in litigation was finished in March of 2013. I do not intend to represent clients in any form of litigation in the future and instead will focus on my new primary career as a high school Social Science with a part-time mediation practice during summer breaks or during weekend hours during the rest of the year.
As a facilitative mediator I will not offer any legal advice to any party when providing mediation services. This means that all parties participating in the process should retain the services of legal counsel to attend the mediation hearing with them if they wish to receive legal counsel and advice during the mediation session.
Education and Experience:
Providence High School, Burbank, California - 1979
UCLA - B.A. in History - 1983
Pepperdine University - J.D. - 1986
Loyola Law School Mediation Training Program - 2009
California State University, Los Angeles Teaching Credential Program - Anticipated completion date - Fall 2016
California State University, Los Angeles M.A. in History - 2018
I have worked as defense counsel at the following law offices between 1986 and 2001: Rushfeldt, Shelly & Drake (Sherman Oaks); Bonne, Bridges, Mueller, O'Keefe & Nichols (Los Angeles and Riverside), and Phillips & Associates (San Luis Obispo). I maintained the law office of Robert W. Bates, APC (Paso Robles and Templeton) between 2001-2010.
I was the the Dean of Student of Life as well as an available substitute Social Studies/Language Arts at the Excelsior School in Pasadena between 2013-18. I am currently a full-time Social Science teacher at Trinity High School in Weaverville, California.
I live in Weaverville, but will splitting my summer break time from teaching between Trinity and Los Angeles counties. Please contact me if I may be of service in mediating cases in Trinity, Shasta, and/or Los Angeles Counties between late June and early August. I can generally be available to assist in mediations during weekends during the rest of the year on dates that do not interfere with my teaching obligations.
