There are Many Paths To A Meaningful Legal Career – Alternate Dispute Resolution
One of the benefits of a legal education is that law school graduates are not limited to careers working exclusively in the legal profession. There are many career paths for graduates, especially those that have developed into effective attorney-advocates. Alternative dispute resolution (ADR) is a viable career for law school graduates although entering the field may require some years of experience practicing law. In fact, ADR may seem like less of an alternative career path than others because of its relationship to the litigation process.
A diverse curriculum, like that of the California Desert Trial Academy (CDTA), helps law students develop skills and qualifications which may transfer to other areas besides law. The types of jobs available in other fields are diverse, and therefore may also depend on the applicant’s level and type of education and previous work experience.
Simply put, ADR is any method of resolving disputes without litigation. Arbitration and mediation are probably the two primary forms of alternative dispute resolution. While courts typically have some overview of legal disputes settled by ADR, they will rarely overturn these decisions and awards if the parties contractually agreed to abide by them. Thus, ADR is a valuable and efficient tool for settling legal disputes.
Over the last several decades, more states have implemented alternative dispute resolution as a mechanism for resolving legal matters. Busy courts, rising litigation costs, and slow results have motivated state judicial systems to seek more efficient methods to serve justice. While some of these programs are voluntary, others are mandatory.
An integral part of alternative dispute resolution is negotiation, which may be considered a soft skill. The CDTA teaches the soft skills, those interpersonal, analytical, and organizational skills that every attorney-advocate requires to effectively practice law, serve clients, and obtain results. Before any other action, negotiation is typically attempted first to resolve a dispute.
Mediation is an informal alternative to litigation that utilizes individuals trained in the “art” of negotiation, who try to work out a settlement between the parties that they will accept or reject. Arbitration is more formal than mediation and is similar to a simplified trial using limited discovery and simplified rules of evidence. Arbitrators do not have to be lawyers and may be selected from fields that the parties consider more qualified to resolve the dispute.
*The following are some of the careers available in alternative dispute resolution:
Alternative Dispute Resolution Specialist
Arbitration Administrator
Arbitrator Dispute Resolution Professional
Domestic Resolution Specialist
Fair Housing Specialist
Family Support Magistrate
Hearing Officer
Mediation Coordinator
Mediator Ombudsperson
The California Desert Trial Academy focuses on providing an academic experience that emphasizes a practical approach to becoming a lawyer. We believe this is the most efficient and expedient pathway to a successful and rewarding legal career. At CDTA, we train, educate, and develop students to be exceptional attorneys and trial advocates. Call us today at (760) 342-0900 or find out more online here.