Alternative Dispute Resolution or ADR is described to be the different procedures that could be undertaken in fixing, closing or reconciling arguments or from the term itself, disputes. The essential fact about ADR is that the resolution takes place outside the court possibly through the following processes – arbitration, meditation, early neutral assessment, and conciliation.
In current years, the public and the legal profession sector as well both accepted this. Different sectors have been subscribing to ADR because of the inconveniences brought about by settling issues inside the court. One of the common drawbacks of court resolutions includes the very timely and costly court proceedings. The programs under this ADR are mostly intentional however some are compulsory.
Alternative Dispute Resolution has two most common forms, the arbitration and meditation. The first form, arbitration, is an edition a trial yet in a shortened way because it does not include and has simplified rules of evidence. They do have a panel that is composed of an arbitrator. Sometimes, both sides agree on one arbitrator and the two selected arbitrators choose another one.
Because it is a simpler version, the trial last only for several hours and is not recorded. Fields such as labor, construction, and securities regulation has long been using arbitration. Yet, this form had been achieving regard in other business related disputed.
Moreover, arbitration is voluntary. An involvement of a third party acts as the private judge and makes a resolution. This has been enforced in recent years especially in the context of consumer agreements.
In the United States, the Title 9 of the U. S. Code institutes Federal Law that supports arbitration. The Congress has also expressed support for arbitration as stipulated in the States’ federal and state law.
On the other hand, meditation is a less formal option to court cases. A third party is involved and acts as mediator who facilitates in negotiations and get conflicting parties together and attempt to apply a resolution that the both parties accept or refuse. This method
has been commonly and effectively used in resolving offenses that involved the youth. In Native American Indian tribes, meditation has also been applicable in helping federal government arrive at significant compromises. It has also become an important way of resolving conflicts between investors and stockbrokers.
In some countries, ADR is considered as a trend just like in Pakistan. Meanwhile in India, ADR has long been existing and it was already in existence even under the previous Arbitration Act, 1940 (Astarita, 2006).
The issue on changing relationships in the workplace, specifically with employment and organizations called for further development of the measures concerning dispute resolutions concerning non-union organizations.
Nevertheless, alternative dispute resolution has forms, wherein approaches to matters such as changes in employment can be resolved. ADR, as mentioned earlier, has subtypes in which each has its own salient features.
Though these are considered alternatives by some, ADR still follows the sufficient due process and gives protection against discrimination to employees.
Take for instance the meditation and arbitration forms. Mediation involves a mediator who sees to it that he facilitates well the resolution process, this is usually known as the “ mediator’s proposal”. While arbitration, though normally voluntary, a third party is still engaged and it is in the person of a private judge who imposes a resolution.
Technically, a judge knows thee rules they need to undergo in order to attain the resolution. In our earlier example of arbitration, these forms have been used by many in order to give due process like those engaged in juvenile delinquency. Meditation and arbitration have big roles in resolving business-related conflicts and conduct it under a due process.
Furthermore, my view of this matter is that alternative dispute resolutions are very practical and useful. They ease the burden of unresolved cases of conflicts that usually are amicable.