CJ Graves

PRO

CJ Graves

also known as C.J. Graves, Christopher J. Graves

4.6
Rating: 10.0

Licensed for 12 years

Divorce and separation Lawyer at Portland, OR
Practice Areas: Divorce & Separation, Child Custody, Domestic Violence ... +2 more

Graves & Swanson, 3630 S River Parkway, Portland, OR

Virtual Consultation Available

About CJ

Biography

I'm a trial attorney handling divorce, family law, and personal injury matters for individuals.

I handle divorce matters for individuals and help them untangle their lives and move forward.

In family law I seek to help clients move forward with their lives with security and confidence.

Practice Areas

5

Practice Areas

Divorce and Separation 30%

Included in my family law practice are domestic violence cases, spousal support cases, child custody, parenting time, and child support cases. I also handle numerous divorce and separation matters.

13 years

30%
Child Custody 20%

Included in my family law practice are domestic violence cases, spousal support cases, child custody, parenting time, and child support cases. I also handle numerous divorce and separation matters.

13 years

20%
Domestic Violence 20%

Included in my family law practice are domestic violence cases, spousal support cases, child custody, parenting time, and child support cases. I also handle numerous divorce and separation matters.

20%
Child Support 15%

Included in my family law practice are domestic violence cases, spousal support cases, child custody, parenting time, and child support cases. I also handle numerous divorce and separation matters.

15%
Family 15%

Included in my family law practice are domestic violence cases, spousal support cases, child custody, parenting time, and child support cases. I also handle numerous divorce and separation matters.

13 years

15%

Fees and Rates

We have not found any cost information for this lawyer

Licenses

Licensed in Oregon for 12 years

State: Oregon

Acquired: 2013

Active

No misconduct found

Location

C.J. Graves

Graves & Swanson, 3630 S River Parkway, Portland, OR, 97239

graves-swanson.com

Online Presence

Other places you can find CJ online.

CJ Graves's Reviews

Avvo Review Score

4.6 /5.0

9 Client Reviews

Filter Avvo Reviews (9) Refine reviews to match your needs. Use the filters to quickly surface reviews that align with your case or priorities.

Showing 1 - 1 of 1 review | Responsiveness

Posted by R | January 26, 2023 | Hired Attorney | Child Custody

Failed at Representing and Negotiating on my Behalf

If you are considering hiring C.J. Graves as your lawyer, I’d like to share my troubling experience working with him on a parenting plan modification which would result in a child support modification. Now, keep in mind, I have sole legal custody of my son. Unfortunately, C.J. satisfied all of t...he opposing party's requests for the provisions in the new supplemental judgement. Nothing we discussed and initially agreed between parties when we “settled” out of court was included in the judgement, except for the 50/50 that I agreed to. The opposing party submitted the judgement that they drafted as final. C.J. submitted the response which was disregarded by Judge Bailey and he signed the opposing parties draft as final. This did not include ANY of the agreed upon/revised provisions that we discussed. C.J. found out about this, called me and emailed me and said he wasn’t happy with the new judgment. However, he signed it without my knowledge and approval. From there, he was not able to discuss the damaging and inaccurate statements with opposing counsel. Not only did the child support modification not include the private health insurance I pay for my son, he also allowed the opposing party to include close to $800 in health care related expenses. He flat out told me he would get this fixed. That never happened. He didn’t even get the other party to agree to edit the start date that the new parenting plan started. This resulted in a 3-month retro for the other party- which was a lie. Either C.J. lacks knowledge of basic information on how to modify a child support payment and/or the ability to properly represent a client. How are basic, fundamental, and true facts not incorporated in a new judgement when you have a lawyer representing you and these were specific things I had to ask him to change? It appears that C.J. was very helpful in allowing the other party to achieve what they wanted. So, in essence, C.J. did not negotiate ANYTHING on my behalf. He did not do the work that I paid him for (negotiating and representing me) because the judgement says it all. This resulted in an inaccurate monthly child support payment, and C.J. knew it. There are additional factors that are influencing my rating and decision which I prefer to leave outside of this review. However, one of the most outstanding is his response time. I would not hear from him for 2 weeks, if not more. Part of his communications said that we shouldn’t “push it” or “upset them in any way,” if we wanted them to agree to consider changing anything (to the true information). This was concerning to me because C.J. constantly told me that the opposing counsel didn’t call him back or reply to his emails. His inability to communicate with opposing counsel set me back and put me in a very compromised position. C.J. was hired to negotiate and represent me. Unfortunately, I lost more than what rights I went in with, and he is very aware of this. At minimum to have the health care expense I pay for my son included in the child support calculator. I have always maintained health insurance for my son. Uninterrupted medical coverage. The lack of timely communication left me wondering for weeks if anything was happening and or going to change. He also made deceiving promises about outcomes that were valid and realistic. I walked out losing and 100% unsatisfied. This was a clear-cut case, and C.J. did not do his job. I truly felt neglected and that my case was not a priority for C.J. He was not able to achieve anything for me and the final judgement contained clauses that were never agreed upon. He was not able to negotiate anything for me. He even stated that in his conversations with opposing counsel, “We simply could not reach a resolution as to the issues”. Simply put, the other party was able to create a judgement that included everything they wanted (that was not agreed upon) and C.J. had no power to negotiate it.

See All Client Reviews

CJ Graves's Lawyer Endorsements

Endorse CJ
Lisa M Kenn headshot
Lisa Kenn

Employment and labor lawyer | Feb 10

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"CJ is smart, well versed in the law, and an all around excellent attorney. He is accessible and committed to his clients, and works diligently and consistently to win just and equitable outcomes for his clients. I fully endorse CJ."

Priscilla L Seaborg headshot
Priscilla Seaborg

Family lawyer | Nov 17

Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter

"I endorse this lawyer."

Dmitriy S Golosinskiy headshot
Dmitriy Golosinskiy

Family lawyer | Oct 19

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"CJ Graves was my mentor while I was in law school. I consulted with CJ for a few family law matters and found him to be extremely knowledgeable in this area of law. CJ is very active in the legal community and has a stellar reputation."

Jonathan M Corey headshot
Jonathan Corey

Family lawyer | Apr 12

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"CJ is extremely professional and a strong advocate for his client. I have not personally worked on a case with CJ; I only know him as a friend/colleague in the legal community. But my associate has worked with CJ on a couple of matters. In assisting my associate on those cases, it became clear that CJ is effective, professional, cordial and proper in his positions while avoiding unnecessary drama in a family law matter. Clients should feel comfortable retaining CJ as their representation. As a friend, I endorse CJ as a generally good person. Finally, CJ speaks with passion about matters that are not family law cases, so I assume he is equally competent in his other areas of practice as well."

Stephen W Flinn headshot
Stephen Flinn

Family lawyer | Nov 18

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I highly endorse CJ Graves. When friends or family come to me seeking legal counsel, I always send them CJ's way."

Alexander Reinagle Roome headshot
Alexander Roome

Family lawyer | Oct 21

Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter

"CJ and I have been opposing counsel on multiple matters, and both times he has been a pleasure to work with and made the situation better for everyone involved. He is hard working and diligent and has great knowledge in multiple areas of law. While I know his work in the family law field, I also recommend him for employment law, where he has been able to help many clients and friends of mine. You will not go wrong with CJ."

Elizabeth C Savage headshot
Elizabeth Savage

Family lawyer | Sep 23

Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter

"C.J. is a consummate professional. I have worked as opposing counsel on several matters with C.J. and I would welcome the opportunity to do so again."

Ron K Cheng headshot
Ron Cheng

Family lawyer | Jun 16

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Navigating through the family court system can be a confusing and emotionally draining experience. Finding a good attorney to walk you through this stressful time can make all the difference and C.J. takes pride in protecting his clients every step of the way. C.J. is a gifted lawyer who has a talent for breaking down complicated legal concepts so his clients can make the best decision for their future. C.J. is not just a smart lawyer, but someone who can instill confidence in his clients."

Nicholas D Cordes headshot
Nicholas Cordes

Employment and labor lawyer | May 23

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer. CJ has a sharp legal mind as is devoted to serving his clients well."

Ralph Edward Gzik headshot
Ralph Gzik

Divorce and separation lawyer | Sep 16

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I have had the pleasure of seeing C.J.'s work ethic, compassion and skill as a Portland family law attorney over the last few years. He truly understands the intricacies of high-asset divorce and separation cases in Oregon. Overall, C.J. is an outstanding advocate that truly cares for his client's needs whether in the courtroom or during negotiations."

Alexander M Tinker headshot
Alexander Tinker

Litigation lawyer | Jul 23

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I met CJ when I first started law school and have come to know him well since. He is diligent, professional, and will never be out-worked. I give him my endorsement without hesitation."

Jacqueline K Swanson headshot
Jacqueline Swanson

Family lawyer | Apr 10

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"CJ may be a young attorney, but he has already firmly established himself within the legal community as an attorney with a stellar reputation in matters both personal and professional. CJ has a highly developed understanding of the complexity of family law cases -- especially as those cases interact with other areas of law, such as personal injury -- and he consistently obtains good results for his clients. CJ genuinely likes being able to provide a sense of safety and security to people who are going through a very difficult time in their life, as is often the case for those seeking assistance with family law attorneys. I have heard nothing but good things from every client I have referred to him, and -- as his reviews here on AVVO readily reveal -- he is much beloved by his clients. I will continue to send CJ referrals and I certainly endorse him, because I know he cares about his clients and will always attentively listen to their needs."

Vittal Patel headshot
Vittal Patel

Divorce and separation lawyer | Apr 10

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer."

Michael S. Waddington headshot
Michael Waddington

Family lawyer | May 27

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse Graves. He is a highly skilled attorney that is well respected in the legal community."

Drake Aehegma headshot
Drake Aehegma

Family lawyer | Mar 28

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"CJ Graves is a knowledgeable and hard working attorney."

View All Endorsements
Mark Maher headshot
Mark Maher

Estate planning lawyer

Jorden James Piraino headshot
Jorden Piraino

Estate planning lawyer

Richard L Cowan headshot
Richard Cowan

Criminal defense lawyer

Lisa M Kenn headshot
Lisa Kenn

Family lawyer

Dmitriy S Golosinskiy headshot
Dmitriy Golosinskiy

Litigation lawyer

James D Van Ness headshot
James Van Ness

Divorce and separation lawyer

Alexander Reinagle Roome headshot
Alexander Roome

Family lawyer

Elizabeth C Savage headshot
Elizabeth Savage

Family lawyer

Matthew Preusch headshot
Matthew Preusch

Environmental and natural resources lawyer

Nicholas D Cordes headshot
Nicholas Cordes

Workers compensation lawyer

Ron K Cheng headshot
Ron Cheng

Personal injury lawyer

Maryam Behrouzi headshot
Maryam Behrouzi

Business lawyer

Sean Clancy headshot
Sean Clancy

Intellectual property lawyer

Leigh Francis Gill headshot
Leigh Gill

Intellectual property lawyer

Alexander M Tinker headshot
Alexander Tinker

Business lawyer

Ksen Pallegedara Murry headshot
Ksen Murry

Family lawyer

Brett Erin Applegate headshot
Brett Applegate

Litigation lawyer

Timothy A. Lawson headshot
Timothy Lawson

Business lawyer

Jacqueline K Swanson headshot
Jacqueline Swanson

Litigation lawyer

Drake Aehegma headshot
Drake Aehegma

Criminal defense lawyer

Experience

Rating:  10.0 (Superb)

Honors

2024

Rising Star, Super Lawyers

2023

Rising Star, Super Lawyers

2022

Rising Star, Super Lawyers

2021

Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch - Personal Injury, Best Lawyers

2021

Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch - Family Law, Best Lawyers

2021

Rising Star, Super Lawyers

2020

Rising Star, Super Lawyers

2019

Rising Star, Super Lawyers

2018

Rising Star, SuperLawyers

2017

10 Best Family Law Attorneys for Client Satisfaction in Oregon, American Institute of Family Law Attorneys

2017

Best Lawyer, Best Lawyers

2015

Honorable Darleen Ortega Outstanding Mentor Award, Lewis & Clark Law School

2013

Cornelius Honors Society, Lewis & Clark Law School

Work Experience

2017 - Present

Partner, Graves & Swanson, LLC

2015 - 2017

Principal Attorney, The Law Office of Christopher J. Graves, LLC

2013 - 2015

Associate Attorney, Gevurtz, Menashe, Larson & Howe, PC

2012 - 2013

Law Clerk, Gevurtz, Menashe, Larson & Howe, PC

2011 - 2011

Law Clerk, Oregon Department Of Justice, Torts and Employment Section

2011 - 2012

Law Clerk, Oregon Department of Justice, Litigation Section

2010 - 2011

Contract Assistant Jury Consultant, Julka Jury Consultation

Associations

2019 - Present

Oregon State Bar Solo and Small Firm Section

Executive Committee

2017 - Present

SetTheExpectation

Director

2015 - Present

Oregon Trial Lawyers Association

Guardian

2013 - Present

Oregon State Bar

Member

2013 - Present

Multnomah County Bar Association

Member

2020 - 2024

Lewis & Clark Law School - Alumni Board

Member

2019 - 2020

Oregon State Bar, New Lawyers Division, Member Services and Satisfaction Subcommittee

Committee Member

2017 - 2020

Lewis & Clark Law School Recent Graduate Council

President

2015 - 2016

Oregon Academy of Family Law Practitioners

Member

2015 - 2017

Lewis & Clark Law School Recent Graduate Council

Vice President

2014 - 2020

Lewis & Clark Law School Recent Graduate Council

Member

2013 - 2015

Washington County Bar Association

Member

Sample of Legal Cases

King v. Warner Pacific College

Pending

See More Legal Cases

Education

2013

Lewis & Clark Law School

JD - Juris Doctor

2010

University of Portland

BA - Bachelor of Arts

Speaking Engagements

2019

Small Firm Practitioners Section Lunchtime CLE

Case Studies in Holistic Representation

2016

Entrepreneur Academy CLE

Planning to Practice: Business Planning for Law Firms

2010

Western Psychological Association Regional Conference

Impact of Similarity Between Witnesses and Jurors on Juror Decision Making

Languages

English

Activity

Avvo Rating

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Avvo Rating Levels
10.0 - 9.0 Superb8.9 - 8.0 Excellent7.9 - 7.0 Very Good6.9 - 6.0 Good5.9 - 5.0 Average4.9 - 4.0 Concern3.9 - 3.0 Caution2.9 - 2.0 Strong Caution1.9 - 1.0 Extreme Caution