Legal disputes have traditionally been resolved by lawsuits, but using the court system is often costly in terms of time, money and personal stress. The typical lawsuit may take years to resolve, and the delay can hinder the productive use of resources and thwart the progress of business dealings. To avoid these problems, individuals, businesses and governmental agencies have frequently turned to Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR).
ADR is an efficient and effective tool in limiting the personal and monetary costs of resolving conflict while affording parties greater control over the result. Mediation and arbitration are the primary methods of ADR. Mediators encourage disputing parties to objectively evaluate their positions and interests to reach a mutually acceptable agreement. Arbitration involves presenting evidence to a third party who has been given decision-making authority.