ABOUT

Melinda O’Dell

I’ve met all kinds in my nearly three decades of meeting people heading to court – the rogues and the fighters, the brave and the timid, the truth-tellers and the truth-benders. All have one thing in common:

Things change. People grow. You can adjust or spend your time fighting.

There are reasons people should not be together. But I believe everyone deserves an opportunity to live a better life. All kids need to be happy, safe, and allowed to develop as their own person.

I strive to help the people who come to me, who trust me to guide them through some of their toughest moments. I thought helping them through the court process and trying to prepare them for their fight was the best way to do that.

Going into a courtroom for any reason means my clients are letting a judicial officer make decisions for them. Litigation happens to them. They live with someone else’s choices.

I think mediation is the better choice.

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Be the Hero in Your Own Life

At the end of the day: life is too short to live in that constant state of battle.

Be the Hero in Your Own Life

At the end of the day: life is too short to live in that constant state of battle.

I grew up in a small town where everyone knew everyone – for better or worse. The sum of my experience there is that life isn’t always easy, and you can never predict what’s going to happen. You can let life happen to you or you can do the best with what you’ve got. Good people can and will help you, but in the end it’s you that has got to do the work.

Like many kids, video games were a great escape for me. You can be whoever you want to be in a game. You can save the day, be a villain, create your own world. I still play games with my kids and use many lessons from gaming to help my clients understand they can be their own hero in real life.

It didn’t take me long to discover that clients sometimes were taken out of thoughtful decision-making early on. A lot of decisions got made by judicial officers or quickly negotiated on the courthouse steps with little explanation to the clients. Even good outcomes can leave a client confused and upset.

Life doesn’t work well when others make choices for you. Litigation touches the most intimate part of people’s lives. Attorneys can help or hinder through some of the most fundamental transitions their clients undergo. Decisions made quickly are not a solid foundation for success.

My Approach:

My mediation practice lets me help people who want to do the challenging work to resolve things fairly and amicably, and then move forward to the next chapter of their lives. I encourage my clients to set down their “weapons” and work toward a solution they can live with. Mediation empowers people to lead the process, rather than making them feel powerless and dependent.

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EXPLORE THE WORLD OF MEDIATION

”“Melinda went well above and beyond what I expected of her to help me through a very difficult time in my life. At every turn she knows what to look for and what to expect. If you are looking for an experienced lawyer who cares for her clients’ well-being and best interest, Melinda is the one for you.”
~ Nathan M.

At the end of the day, my goal is to send my clients into their future better off than they were when I met them.

I do not sugarcoat. I am direct and sometimes brutally honest. I will push parties to think about their choices from different perspectives before making a final decision. At the end of your process, I want both of you to have explored all options to come up with your best yes-able proposition.

Ever since I graduated from law school, I’ve kept a card on my desk with this quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson:

To laugh often and much; to win the respect of the intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the beauty in others; to leave the world a bit better whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; to know that one life has breathed easier because you lived here. This is to have succeeded.

I work every day to succeed, and to help my clients succeed. I can use what I learned in all my battles to help your family into a better place with you and the other party choosing your own terms and forging your own future.

EXPLORE THE WORLD OF MEDIATION

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I.U. School of Law – Indianapolis | Doctor of Jurisprudence 1991 – 1994

Indiana University – Bloomington | B.S., Biology 1986 – 1990

Rivet High School 1983 – 1986 | Activities and societies: Valedictorian – 1986

Certified Family Law Specialist – by the Indiana Family Law Certification Board

Registered Family Mediator

Parent Coordination Training: Association of Family & Conciliation Courts – 2006

Ann Marie Termini, Cooperative Parenting Institute – 2013

Guardian ad Litem Training: District 10 Pro Bono Project – 2005

Collaborative Law Training: Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum – 2007

Martindale Awards – Client Champion Silver is awarded to lawyers/firms with at least 3 reviews, with an average score of 4.0 or higher

Martindale Ratings – Average Client Rating: 100% client recommended

Indiana, Indianapolis, and Hendricks County Bar Associations Member – Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (and Indiana Chapter)

Indianapolis Bar Association – 1994-present, Committee Member: 2014-15

Board Member – Avon Parent Partnership Committee – 2014-2015

Board Member, Indiana Connected By 25, Inc. – 2012

Central Indiana Association of Collaborative Professionals – 2012 – 2018

Association of Family and Conciliation Courts – 2004 – present

ISBA CaseMaker Improvement Committee – 2006 – 2008; Management Committee – 2006-2014

ISBA Ethics/ Billing CLE Presenter, “Ask and You Shall Receive” – 2009

Solo/Small Firm Practice Section 2015 Executive Committee – 2014

Hendricks County Bar Association: 1998 – present; Treasurer – 1999 – 2001

Board Member Avon Parent Partnership Committee – 2014 – present

Mooresville Kiwanis Club – 2005 – 2007

Board Member Connected by 25 – 2012 – 2013

Board Member Morgan Co. Humane Society – 2006 Term

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Contact Paradigm Shift Mediation

Divorce doesn’t have to be a battle.

Instead of picking up the sword, let’s sit down together and find common ground.

These discussions are not going to be easy, but they’re the best way to empower you to come to an agreement that works best for both parties – and for your children.

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