Law Practice Essentials

Alternative dispute resolution (ADR) refers to the variety of process options by which disputes are resolved other than through traditional litigation. The increasingly prohibitive cost and delay that often occurs in litigation, and public interest in resolving disputes through other means, have highlighted the need for lawyers to understand the different ADR methods and, if appropriate, seek training to participate in those processes.

You may see some refer to ADR as ‘appropriate dispute resolution’ or simply ‘dispute resolution’. The difference in terminology in part stems from the view that these options should no longer be considered as just an alternative but part of a broader range of resolution options that may be appropriate to the parties’ circumstance. The traditional reference of ADR is used in this lesson simply because it remains the most common definition.

This module is intended to provide an overview of commonly used private ADR process options available in most practice areas outside of the court system. Visit the Alberta Court of Justice’s website to learn about family resolution processes, civil resolution processes and specialized courts.

The objectives of the ADR Module are to:

• learn about the benefits and drawbacks of ADR;
• learn about commonly used private ADR processes; and
• consider how you can learn more about ADR and training applicable to your practice setting.