This module is not currently running in 2026 to 2027.
Can justice only be delivered in a court room? Is justice delayed, justice denied? What is the alternative? With an increasing demand on our civil justice system to deliver timely and cost-effective justice, you will evaluate whether there is a more appropriate way of resolving disputes to limit some of the damage caused by choosing only to litigate. You will master the core principles of appropriate dispute resolution (ADR) and using case law, identify how shifting judicial attitudes have led to an alternative to the court room. You will explore how ADR informs our understanding of broader themes of justice and learn how to advise a client as to the merits of ADR. By the end of this module, you will also develop the necessary practical skills to analyse and resolve a dispute through an understanding of various alternative dispute resolution processes such as mediation and negotiation.
Lecture 16, Workshop 8, Seminar 8
2000 words Extended Writing. Assessment Details: Essay worth 40%. This Assessment is Pass Compulsory.
90 minutes Practical competency. Assessment Details: Mock Appropriate dispute resolution 90 minutes worth 60%. This Assessment is Pass Compulsory.
Reassessment Method: Like-for-like
On successfully completing the module, students will be able to:
1) Identify and apply the concepts, principles, and rules of appropriate dispute resolution.
2) Critically evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of ADR in the wider civil justice system, making appropriate reference to legal and academic sources to make well-supported arguments.
3) Formulate and deliver accurate and persuasive arguments in verbal and written form.
4) Select and apply appropriate dispute resolution skills and processes such as mediation, negotiation and arbitration to complex scenarios, justifying choices with reference to best practice and/or legal principles.
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