What is Alternative Dispute Resolution and how does it work?
• Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) offers a more informal, less confrontational and more consensual approach such as mediation to settle appeals, particularly (in appropriate cases) sponsorship appeals. • The ADR process usually involves an in-person meeting – an ADR conference – that is scheduled to last for one hour. A dispute resolution officer (DRO) conducts the ADR conference with the Minister’s counsel (representing Citizenship and Immigration Canada) and the appellant and her or his counsel and assists them to agree to a settlement of the appeal.
Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) includes methods designed to resolve a legal matter without having a full-blown trial in a courtroom. The purpose is to save parties time and money in resolving disputes. One type of ADR also allows parties a voice in the result, rather than hearing a decision rendered. When I was in law school, ADR was barely thought of; cases were either settled by the lawyers or tried in court. In my 17 years of practice, the importance of ADR has risen dramatically. Now, most courts have rules requiring a formal dispute resolution attempt before trial. Mediation is a very popular and successful type of ADR. In mediation, the parties and attorneys meet with a mediator to try to reach a settlement. The mediator does not make a decision like a judge. The mediator helps both sides recognize the strengths, weaknesses and risks in their case, and aids in communication. Because settlement is the goal, the parties have control in crafting the solution to their case, rat
