About

Gary L. Schreiner, JD

Gary Schreiner was admitted to the practice of law in 2002. Gary served as General Counsel for a local corporation before opening his solo practice, Schreiner Law, PLLC.  In addition to his solo practice, Gary coordinated projects for the Seventh Judicial District of Idaho, including mediation and juvenile restorative justice programs. He served for six years as Family Court Services Administrator in the Sixth Judicial District, under contract with the Idaho Supreme Court, working closely with judges and court personnel.  He has been a Certified Professional Mediator, Parenting Coordinator, Child Custody Mediator, Case Management Screener, and Certified Professional Mediation Trainer.

Gary is a graduate of the University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law (J.D.) and Brigham Young University (B.A., International Relations). During law school he worked in the Utah State Administrative Office of the Courts assisting the Directors of the Office of the Guardian ad Litem and the Office of Dispute Resolution Programs. He subsequently worked as law clerk for G. Eric Neilson and Associates, and the Third District Office of the Guardian ad Litem.

Gary is licensed in Idaho (active) and Utah (inactive). He has been a member of various sections of the Idaho State Bar and the Utah State Bar, and chaired the Alternative Dispute Resolution Section of the Idaho State Bar.  He has also served on the board of directors of the Idaho Mediation Association, served on the District 7 Juvenile Justice Council, and chaired the Bannock County Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Task Force.   

In addition to his legal practice, Gary is an independent filmmaker, photographer, musician, composer, writer, speed agility and power coach, and black belt.  He also coaches and referees youth soccer.  He serves on the regional board for American Youth Soccer Organization Region 102 and has served on the board of directors for the Idaho Falls Youth Arts Council ("IFYAC").   He enjoys spending time with family and relaxing with good book.

He is the author of Representing Yourself in Court: An Easy Guide and The Thriveologist’s Guide to Making Stress Awesome.

 

Approach/Philosophy

Why Law?

The law doesn’t have to be something we only use when there is a problem.  It doesn’t have to be scary, stressful or oppressive. It can and should be used in a positive way to help us achieve our goals and dreams. 

Why do we have laws?  To create order and protection for members of a society.  They are supposed to be a benefit to people. If the law is supposed to provide benefits, then a lawyer’s job is to help his or her client realize those benefits.   

Freedom and Boundaries

Many years ago, I had the opportunity to attend a unique educational program with a “horse whisperer.”  In the program, human services professionals experienced working with wild mustangs in order to learn how to work more effectively with their human clients.  One lesson I will never forget is that wild mustangs - those symbols of running free - need boundaries to feel secure.

In many ways, humans are like wild mustangs.  We need freedom within boundaries; we need structure to support us so we can excel.  Legal frameworks help give us this structure and freedom. This is one of the most important, and largely unrecognized, benefits of the law.

No, It’s not Perfect.

Lest you think I’m looking at the law through rose colored glasses, I want to acknowledge that there are laws and legal decisions that don’t work the way they were intended, some that are abused, and some that were simply a bad idea.  One role of legal counsel is to help clients navigate the laws that went sideways.

Legal Issues are Just a Part of Something Greater.

The fact is, legal issues don’t exist in a vacuum.  They affect people, and there are always social, economic, emotional and other factors involved.  Likewise, each of those factors may have legal implications that most people don't recognize. Legal counsel’s job is to take a look at a variety of factors and help the client create or obtain the best possible outcome under the circumstances.

More than a "band-aid solution."

I'm not just an attorney, I'm also a counselor at law.  That's a role I take very seriously.  This means my job is not just to draft documents but to provide counsel and advice to support your legal wellbeing.   This also means that in addition to purely legal services, I provide such training, coaching and consulting as I am qualified to provide in order to address the needs of my clients.  We don't just want to treat symptoms - we want to solve problems and promote the general health and well-being of you and your business.

The Schreiner Law Difference.

The law/legal practice, used in conjunction with other skills and disciplines, can therefore be a powerful tool for not only protecting interests, but for enabling higher performance and improving lives.   I combine training and experience in a variety of disciplines to help my clients on their path of success.