The Alternative Dispute Resolution programme was set up for the resolution of issues outside the court due to the expensive cost of litigation and the amount of time spent on trials among other unfavorabe situations that do not usually suit the smooth flow of justice.The Alternative Dispute Resolution process takes place in court premises but not necessarily inside a courtroom and in some provided locations such as the local government or community development area offices.

Section 19(d) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 allows the settlement of disputes by arbitration, mediation, facilitation, negotiation, and adjudication; all of which are the processes of the Alternative Dispute Resolution. Others are collaborative family law, expert determination, mini-trial, etc. Here are ways that some of the aforementioned processes of the ADR can be employed in the resolution of conflicts without going to trial or spending money on litigation.

Mediation
In meditation, a Mediator is appointed, not to ncessarily settle the coflict, but to help the parties improve their communication and settle the conflict themselves. If the parties fails to reach an agreement with mediation, the non resolved issues or the entire issues are submitted to be arbitrated. This takes us to the arbitration process.

Arbitration
In Arbitration, an arbitrator decides the dispute after hearing from the disputing parties. Arbitration is either binding or non binding. Binding, when the parties agree to accept the arbitrator's decision as final without appeal and non binding when the parties may go into trial if they do not accet the arbitrator's decision. When going into a contract, some parties do indicate to settle issues that may arise during the contract with the arbitration process.

Collaborative Law
The collaborative law is mostly applicable in divorce cases. It gives room for peaceful end to a marriage and a protective representative of the parties. It allows for divorce without having to go through trials in the court.

The Alternative Dispute Resolution is generally cost effective and it saves a lot of time compared to court trials. Other advantage of going the Alternative Dispute Resolution way is privacy, simplicity and the greatest of all is that the parties are able to bear their reservations, grievances, or the shortcomings of one another to the neutral third parties, in so doing, a more peaceful and favourable resolution is usually reached.

Links
http://www.nigerianlawguru.com/articles/arbitration/ALTERNATIVE%20DISPUTE%20RESOLUTION.htm
https://www.nycourts.gov/ip/adr/What_Is_ADR.shtml


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