Lang and Associates

     Mark J. Lang is an accomplished attorney with decades of experience in both public service and private practice. Licensed in Oregon, Washington, and California, Mark brings a broad legal perspective and a deep commitment to effective advocacy for his clients.

      Raised in Downieville, a small mountain town in California’s Sierra Nevada region, Mark earned his Bachelor of Science in Political Science from Santa Clara University before beginning his professional career in business development at Hewlett-Packard. He later pursued his passion for public service by attending the University of North Dakota School of Law, where he was recognized on the Dean’s List and served as Student Director of the Legal Aid Clinic, providing legal assistance to members of the Spirit Lake Sioux Tribe. He graduated from law school in 1997.

      Mark began his legal career on the North Oregon Coast, where he played a key role in developing the Clatsop County Domestic Violence Response Team. From 1998 to 2007, he served as a prosecutor with the Clatsop County District Attorney’s Office, trying more than 200 jury and court cases. His prosecutorial experience spans major felonies, DUII, identity theft, child support enforcement, and property crimes. In addition to trial work, Mark served as a law-enforcement instructor and as a faculty member of the National Advocacy Center.

     In 2010, Mark opened his private practice in Astoria, Oregon, later relocating to St. Helens in 2014. Since then, he has represented clients throughout Clatsop and Columbia Counties, providing strategic, practical, and compassionate legal guidance. While every case is unique and outcomes cannot be guaranteed, Mark is known for his thorough preparation, courtroom experience, and dedication to ensuring clients feel informed, supported, and confident throughout the legal process.

  Judge Grant retired in 2020, after 13-½ years on the Circuit Court bench in Columbia County, Oregon, including seven years as Presiding Judge of the judicial district. As Circuit Judge, she handled all types of cases, including criminal, domestic relations, juvenile dependency and delinquency, drug court, probate, and civil cases. She believed strongly in resolving disputes before trial to avoid stress and expense to the parties whenever possible, and facilitated countless settlements, through multiple meetings when needed. As a Senior Judge, she regularly does remote settlement conferences for Benton County, handling criminal, domestic relations, probate, and other civil cases. Although each of these settlement conferences is scheduled for less than two hours, she is an attentive and efficient mediator and has been able to assist the parties and their attorneys to settle the majority of the cases presented to her within the time allotted. 

     Judge Grant was born in Oregon and has lived most of her life here, including nearly three decades in Columbia County, where she was an attorney in private practice both before and after serving on the Circuit bench. She has warmth and curiosity, and a range of personal and professional experience which allows her to relate well to litigants. She has worked in various fields including hospital pharmacy and teaching at Portland State University, been married for 33 years, raised a daughter, owned many pets, started and managed a restaurant, lived in urban and small town settings as well as abroad, spent lots of time in the natural environment, and is respectful of the choices people make in their own lives. 

     Judge Grant is available for remote mediation, where at least one party is represented by an attorney. During remote mediation, each party is placed -with his or her attorney- in a virtual "breakout room" where Judge Grant can speak privately with each side. This process has worked well for dozens of successful mediations conducted by Judge Grant. Judge Grant requests that prior to mediation each party submit a brief, confidential summary of the case from their point of view, including that party's position for purposes of settlement negotiations. She will also review any supplementary materials, upon request. This allows her to go into a session with the parties with enough background to conduct an efficient mediation, saving everyone time and expense. Judge Grant has some availability to conduct mediation sessions on evenings and weekends, with no additional fees for after-hours services. 

To request mediation with Judge Grant, please email her at JSG@mlanglaw.com.