ADR and Tribunals Flashcards
What does ADR stand for?
Alternative Dispute Resolution
What are the main 4 ADR methods in England and Wales?
Negotiation, Mediation, Conciliation and Arbitration
What is negotiation?
Used to prevent disputes reaching court where they could be resolved by other means, negotiation is a dialogue between two parties in which they reach a suitable compromise relating to their dispute
What are the advantages of negotiation?
- Speed
- Privacy
- Low cost
- Ease of use
- Informality
- High success rates
What are the disadvantages of negotiation?
- Power imbalance
- Lack of law
- No precedent
- Not enforceable
- Court involvement
- Low success rates
What is mediation?
Mediation is a process in which parties voluntarily resolve their issues in an informal environment, with the assistance of an impartial facilitator
The third-party does not side with anyone, but rather lets each side know if they have an overly optimistic view of their position
What power, if any, does the third party have in mediation?
The third-party has no power over the participants, except the power of persuasion
What does a facilitative mediator do?
Examines the real interests and concerns of the parties, supporting the dispute rather than the legal aspects
A facilitative mediator will not give their opinion about the strengths of each party’s case, or put forward ideas for settlement
What does an evaluative mediator do?
Gives their opinion about the strengths of each party’s case, and/or puts forward ideas for settlement
This has to be agreed to by the parties beforehand and recorded, otherwise the mediation must be entirely facilitative
What are the advantages of mediation?
- Flexible
- Quick resolution
- Cost effective when compared to litigation
- Can be arranged quickly
- A third party assists with the negotiation
- Confidential and private
- Prevents adverse precedent by the courts
- Avoids stress and trauma to the parties
- Allows the parties to form a creative settlement
- Even if it does go to court, the parties have a better understanding of each others’ case
What are the disadvantages of mediation?
- Cases ending up in court would incur extra costs
- Can be ineffective if court-ordered
- Being forced into mediation could lead to little commitment to form an agreement
- There may not be a level playing field with more ‘powerful’ party who is able to manipulate
- The government has been slow to promote ADR
What is conciliation?
Conciliation is the same process as mediation, except the conciliator will not be selected by the parties
The conciliator takes a more active role than a mediator, putting forward ideas for compromise
What are the advantages of conciliation?
- Flexible
- Quick resolution
- Cost effective when compared to litigation
- Can be arranged quickly
- A third party assists with the negotiation
- Confidential and private
- ACAS adopts an approach that looks at prevention rather than the cure. Helps to mend relationships
- Identifies and clarifies the main issues of the dispute
What are the disadvantages of conciliation?
- There is a greater reliance on the conciliator
- Cases ending up in court would incur extra costs
What is arbitration?
Arbitration is a procedure in which both parties agree to let a third party, the arbitrator decide on a resolution
To the general public, this looks like a court, but there are two very distinct differences
Both parties must agree to solving the dispute using an arbitrator
Arbitrators are appointed by the parties, not by the state
But both parties agree to be bound by the decision