The primary goal of alternative dispute resolution (ADR)  is to settle disputes without litigation.

Going to court often involves a long and arduous process—and doesn’t always produce a beneficial result. 

This is precisely what ADR is designed to avoid: the time delays, costs, anxiety, and sometimes disappointing outcomes of litigation. 

ADR is used to settle disputes in a wide range of practice areas, including:

☑️ Family matters 

☑️ Commercial contracts 

☑️ Workplace disputes 

☑️ Labour relations 

☑️ Business and consumer disputes 

☑️ Intellectual property 

☑️ Sports 

☑️ Construction 

☑️ International trade deals 

☑️ Torts 

There are four main types of ADR. Many alternative dispute resolution professionals build skills across all four modalities, so they can choose or combine approaches to suit clients' needs.

In this post, we'll guide you through each ADR type, including common pros and cons of each model. 

Are you a manager or business leader wondering which corporate training goals you should prioritize this year?

It can be a tough call, given the sheer number of professional development courses and topics out there. 

What new skills would most benefit your team and help your company grow?  

Some organizations are prioritizing obvious and immediate needs. For example, video conferencing training to help employees conduct business or teach classes online during the pandemic. 

But in most cases, companies are looking for ways to get a competitive edge over the long term. They are seeking professional training in less tangible areas—soft skills that directly impact teamwork, productivity, morale, talent retention, and company culture. 

In fact, soft skills (versus finite technical skills) have become increasingly popular corporate training goals.  

Which skills are companies investing in most right now? Here are the top 5 trends in corporate training and professional development.

If you are interested in the field of alternative dispute resolution (ADR), you may be considering becoming an accredited arbitrator or mediator.

Both are increasingly popular forms of dispute resolution; both offer interesting and diverse career opportunities.

People pursue ADR training and accreditation for a number of reasons. Some aspire to become professional mediators or arbitrators. Others are simply looking to handle conflict better in their personal relationships or workplace.

It’s certainly an industry in demand. From business disputes to divorce settlements, people are turning to ADR as a more flexible, less costly, and more time-effective means of resolving conflicts.

Arbitration and mediation offer two different approaches to conflict resolution. They differ in terms of procedure and outcomes, as well as training and accreditation.

Quick summary: Compare accredited Mediation and Arbitration certificates offered at Kompass. Learn how you can build your own customized online dispute resolution training program.

Disputes are an inevitable part of the human experience. From personal to professional relationships, in family groups and work settings, at the community level and between nations—conflict is a fact of life. 

It’s how we deal with disputes that defines our capacity to evolve and grow. This is an increasingly valued personal and professional skill.

We’ve been delivering online dispute resolution training for years, and are continuously surprised at the diverse backgrounds and motivations of students. 

If you are considering a career in mediation, your first priority is to understand the types of mediation certification available in your region and at the national level in Canada. 

With the exception of family mediation, all mediation certifications are administered by the Alternative Dispute Resolution Institute of Canada (ADRIC). 

ADRIC is the national certifying body and sets clear standards and guidelines for mediation training, certification, and professional practice.

ADRIC also has regional affiliates, some of which have special or different requirements for certification, in addition to the national criteria.

Family mediators have their own professional association, separate from ADRIC, called Family Mediation Canada (FMC). 

Depending on the type of mediations you want to perform, you may need to get certified by both ADRIC and FMC. 

So where do you begin? What are the steps involved in becoming a certified mediator in Canada, and which type of certification is right for you?

Like many judges and lawyers, Mary Joseph entered the field of alternative dispute resolution after retiring from a successful career in law. But she’s not your typical lawyer-turned-mediator.

Mary brings a unique repertoire of skills and scholarship to her mediation practice, including 30 years as an immigration lawyer, a Master’s in Divinity, and expertise in online dispute resolution (ODR).

Two years ago, Mary added mediation instructor to the list. She teaches the accredited Mediation Certificate at Kompass Professional Development.

“I am convinced that nothing we do is more important than hiring and developing people. At the end of the day, you bet on people not on strategies.” - Larry Bossidy 

It's tough to argue with Larry Bossidy—renowned business leader, author, speaker, and now retired CEO of Honeywell. 

Bossidy was never an HR manager, but there’s no doubt he understood the enormous value of recruiting, nurturing, and retaining top talent. 

He knew that business success is intrinsically linked to employee success. And who monitors and cultivates employee success? The human resources team. 

Canada is in the midst of a mental health crisis. According to the Canadian Mental Health Association, at least 1 in 5 Canadians will personally experience a mental health problem or illness this year. 

Suicide is a leading cause of death among men and women, from adolescence to middle age. By age 40, 50% of our population will have, or have had, a mental illness. 

Never has demand been higher for skilled mental health counselors, clinicians, advocates, and organizers. We need support at every level, from grassroots community mental health organizations to policy makers and clinical practitioners. 

The use of arbitration is on the rise. More and more employers require workers to sign mandatory arbitration agreements, keeping conflicts like employment discrimination and wrongful termination out of the courts. We're also seeing a major uptick in intellectual property and technology disputes handled through arbitration.

Kat Bellamano teaches the accredited Arbitration training course at Kompass Professional Development. She has been working in the field of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) for 17 years.