In the Alternative

The newsletter of ISBA’s Section on Alternative Dispute Resolution

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2025 Articles

AI and Law: An Opportunity to Improve Legal Practice By Damien Riehl February 2025 Recent exponential leaps in advanced large language models have presented both opportunities and challenges that have the capacity to reshape the legal landscape.
Case Briefs By ADR Section Council February 2025 Summaries of written decisions issued in five cases of interest to ADR practitioners.
Case Briefs By ADR Section Council January 2025 Summaries of written decisions issued in nine cases of interest to ADR practitioners.
CFPB Permanently Bans Company from Arbitrating Consumer Financial Disputes By Jay R. Schleppenbach January 2025 The federal government exercises oversight over arbitration, for instance through legislation exempting certain classes of disputes from arbitration or delegating to agencies the power to regulate arbitration clauses in certain types of contracts. In October 2024, a more obvious form of oversight came to public view when the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau entered a consent order permanently banning Ejudicate, Inc. from arbitrating consumer financial disputes.
Development of the Restorative Justice Movement in Northern Ireland By Judge Ann Breen-Greco January 2025 Restorative justice as a concept dates back centuries, emphasizing accountability, reparations, and community engagement over punishment. It focuses on repairing harm caused by crime through dialogue and understanding among affected parties. In Northern Ireland, the adoption of restorative practices was shaped significantly by the aftermath of “The Troubles.” Communities felt that traditional punitive approaches, especially those implemented by the British-controlled judicial system, often exacerbated mistrust and division rather than healing.
The Law: A Proverbial Hammer or Shield in Collaborative Practice? By Sandra Crawford, J.D. February 2025 The Collaborative Process aims to help clients find customized solutions that meet their self-identified needs while understanding the legal framework. In collaborative law, transparency is crucial in fostering effective conflict resolution. It involves openly sharing information, including legal perspectives and potential outcomes, with all participants. 
LAWPAC Needs You! February 2025 The Illinois Lawyers’ Political Action Committee (LAWPAC) needs your help to fulfill its mission to support the legislative goals of the ISBA and Illinois’ legal community.
Singapore International Arbitration Center Amends Rules to Enhance Emergency Arbitrator Procedure, Third-Party Funding Provisions By Jay R. Schleppenbach February 2025 On January 1, 2025, the seventh edition of the Singapore International Arbitration Center (SIAC) Rules went into effect. The changes from prior versions of the SIAC Rules are more than just ministerial and several potentially impactful substantive revisions have been made.
What Is the Remote Practice of Law? By Stephen B. Cohen January 2025 In this article, the author emphasizes and describes how a major event affecting all aspects of society has changed many traditional aspects of the practice of law.