When Legal Counsel Is Not Your Only Friend: The Acceptance of Alternative Dispute Resolution

Do You Ever Feel Like the Recurring Scream? It ’ s a one-on-one boxing match, but there’s no bell to end it. This is the boxing ring of real life legal merrimack mediation. And what if I was to tell you that there ’ s another ring just a few steps over– where you can put your problems on the ropes and keep them there without riding out a bout? Please meet Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR). For legal disputes, that ’ s the rough and tumble minus rules and gloves.

Think of ADR as the mate who prepares the popcorn, advice for non-judgmental thought and garrulous discussion. It puts together mediation, arbitration and negotiation as a package to settle your case without ever having to walk down the aisle of a courtroom. What’s the point of yelling at one another when there’s somebody ready to help keep you both accent?

So imagine this: you and your neighbor are head-to-head over an apple tree that doesn ’ t know where the property line ends and yours begins. Instead of both sides marching straight to court, taking their pitchforks ADR is rather like turning to a wise old grannie to settle Well, “tree-trition” problems (the With a capital ‘T). A mediator comes in to help both parties talk things over and reach some kind of compromise. Now Granny, er, mediator to the rescue!

But wait, there is still more! Another ADR tool is arbitration. This is like selecting a referee for a game of Soccer. In arbitration, without all ample courtroom fanfare, the arbitrator acts as your whistle-blower and makes decisions likely to rival those of a judge. This option may appeal to those types most concerned with privacy they ’ ll guard it as a cat guards nap spots.

Either: do n’t leave out negotiation–the very essence of ADR. It ’ s the art of haggling, trading and talk all wrapped up in one. In this legal tug-of-war, you’re the equivalent of a star quarterback making plays that are designed to lead you in for a touchdown on peaceful resolution.

Don ’ t Worry–ADR is n’t conjuring up new-fangled solutions; it’s a cool-headed way of resolving age-old problems. Relaxed, speedy and easy on the pocketbook, it ’ s like getting to have your cake without waiting an eternity, and eat it too. The saved hero of dispute resolution; ADR is promoting the confidence of non-confrontational solutions coming into its own and developing. It may be just what your legal battles need to get on the winning track. So step aboard this ADR Train–who knows, it may be quite a cool trip after all!