Judge Bethlahmy began her legal career in 1978 when she became a member of the Idaho State Bar. In 1985, she joined the Oregon State Bar and worked in private practice. Her background includes ALJ experience hearing a variety, including education, probation revocation, welfare, workers' compensation, OSHA and employment cases, tax, and child support cases. In 1990, she accepted an ALJ position with the Workers' Compensation Board and, in 1991, completed mediation training with the Multnomah County Courts/State Judicial Institute Mediator Training Program. Since 1995, Judge Bethlahmy has mediated all types of cases -- workers' compensation, employment, OSHA, noncomplying employer, and general tort cases -- at all levels from the Hearings Division to the Court of Appeals. She believes her role as a mediator is to assist the parties in whatever capacity they desire, whether it involves client control issues, legal analysis and factual disputes, a facilitative or evaluative approach, or a combination of the styles. She believes that a thorough knowledge of the file and a frank discussion with counsel before the mediation is important. Judge Bethlahmy's commitment toward resolution of all issues may involve working with the parties beyond the actual day of mediation.