New online mediation tools available

The New York State Office of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) has developed new online tools to help promote the mediation process for civil disputes.

The online services include:

• A statewide mediator directory (http://ww2.nycourts.gov/ip/adr/MedDirectory.shtml) to help litigants, court staff and others in locating a court-approved mediator.
• A statewide mediator application (http://ww2.nycourts.gov/ip/adr/Application.shtml) that qualified mediators can use to join mediator rosters in trial courts across the state
• An online post-mediation survey, giving mediation participants the opportunity to evaluate the quality of the mediation services offered.

ADR has proven to be an efficient and cost-effective way to resolve disputes. Last year, New York State Chief Judge Janet DiFiore launched a statewide initiative to refer civil cases to ADR as early as possible, where appropriate.

Implementation of the Presumptive ADR program is being overseen by the offices of the Deputy Chief Administrative Judge for the New York City Courts and Deputy Chief Administrative Judge for the Courts Outside New York City, with the Office of ADR providing training and other resources to assist judicial districts in carrying out the initiative.

The directory also includes information about whether the mediator is an attorney, has expertise in a specific area, provides online mediation or speaks a second language, all without having to visit the courthouse for assistance.

Similarly, the online mediator application is an easy way for qualified individuals to join one or more court mediator rosters at the same time using a single application, with the aim of increasing the number of court-approved mediators and the diversity of the court-approved mediator pool.

The online directory now lists about 750 mediators from around the state, each meeting the necessary training and other requirements, with more applicants being added daily.

Additionally, with the launch of the post-mediation online survey, participants in mediation services now have a convenient way to provide the court system feedback about their experience.

For more information about these online ADR resources, or to learn more about the court system’s ADR programs, go to: http://ww2.nycourts.gov/ip/adr/index.shtml.

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