What is Alternate Dispute Resolution?

• A. A formal court procedure
• B. Mediation, arbitration and conciliation that involve courts
• C. Dispute resolution processes such as mediation, arbitration and conciliation that do not involve courts
• D. A mandatory arbitration

Answer: (C)

Alternate Dispute Resolution is about settling disputes without going to the court. It covers processes like mediation, arbitration and conciliation that happen outside the formal courtroom system. Each method has its own role: mediation involves a neutral facilitator who helps the parties negotiate and reach a voluntary agreement; arbitration involves a neutral arbitrator who listens to both sides and issues a decision, typically binding and enforceable; conciliation is similar to mediation in that a conciliator helps the parties discuss terms and often proposes a settlement. The key idea is that these approaches aim to resolve disputes without a court trial, though in some cases a court may refer parties to ADR or require it as a step before litigation. This is why the best description is that ADR encompasses dispute resolution processes such as mediation, arbitration and conciliation that do not involve courts.