In 1990 the Law Society established the alternative dispute resolution working party to examine the use of ADR techniques, develop the framework for the delivery of services and promote the appropriate use of ADR by solicitors.The working party has been focusing on three main areas: setting up a regulatory framework for solicitors who are mediators; raising awareness within the profession; and raising awareness within the general public.

It also works to influence the future practice of mediation through ongoing work with partnership organisations, the Lord Chancellor's Department (LCD) and the Legal Services Commission (LSC).The working party draws on the expertise from members practising both family and civil/commercial law as well as consumer interest groups who are also members of other bodies such as the Civil Justice Council, the Forum of Insurance Lawyers, the UK College of Family Mediators and the Solicitors Family Law Association.

There is a real impetus for encouraging solicitors to harness their skills for mediation and other ADR techniques.

Solicitors and their clients are increasingly aware of the opportunities which ADR can present for resolving disputes, often where a relationship must be maintained with the other party and for this reason the working party aims to promote mediation and other forms of ADR as developing areas of practice for solicitors.Mediation has been the predominant form of ADR used in this country, both in family and civil/commercial disputes.

Therefore, the working party has concentrated on setting up accreditation schemes in both areas of law.

Codes of practice and training standards have been developed for both civil/commercial and family mediation.

The codes of practice can be found in the Guide to the Professional Conduct of Solicitors, 1999, eighth edition.

Both the codes and training standards were produced by the working party through a process of extensive consultation with ADR training organisations and umbrella bodies as well as the LCD and LSC.Over the past year the working party has been preparing to open for applications to join the civil/commercial and family accreditation schemes.

These panels will be launched during the next year.

The family mediation panel has already opened for applications.The working party has developed these panels so that solicitors who meet the Law Society's standards will have their names published on a list that will be available free of charge to the public and the profession, thereby guaranteeing the provision of a quality assured mediator.

Each panel will have two levels of membership.

This recognises that there are solicitors who have completed the basic training yet lack further experience and need the opportunity to do this.

They will be able to join as general members and build up more practical experience and training to join the higher level of practitioner member.Both panels will be running within the next year and the working party will then be concentrating on awareness raising initiatives and pressing for law reform to help bring about increased use of ADR.Detailed consultation has taken place with training and mediation organisations to ensure that their standards broadly match those set by the working party.

This will mean that applicants wishing to join either panel who have trained with these organisations will receive automatic recognition for the course they have completed.Once this regulatory framework is in place, the working party will concentrate on raising awareness about ADR as this in turn, will generate more interest and more work.

Initiatives will include mock mediation seminars for solicitors run by their local law societies, using a seminar pack giving detailed case samples which can be role-played.

The working party is also hoping to support a national mediation awareness week in the courts and a national schools competition.Mediation is only one of the ADR techniques that can be used for dispute resolution and future initiatives will focus on other techniques such as early neutral evaluation.

The working party has also been involved in discussions recently with mediation organisations from the US as well as the American Bar Association to discuss how solicitors could become more involved with on-line dispute resolution and generally increase awareness.ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION WORKING PARTY FACT FILECHAIRMANDerek Sands was admitted as a solicitor in 1965.

He became a partner at Kirk Jackson solicitors in Manchester in1968.

He was elected to the Law Society Council in 1986 and served as a representative for the Manchester, Salford & Stockport District until July 2000 and has contributed greatly to the work of several committees and working parties.

He has also served as treasurer and chairman of the South Manchester Law Centre and as a member of the Salford Law Centre.COMMITTEE MEMBERSAngus Andrew, Osbornes, LondonHenry Brown, Penningtons, LondonJames Burnett-Hitchcock, consultant, CMS Cameron McKenna and visiting professor at the College of LawRobin Ap Cynan, Lupus Mediation, ShrewsburyMartin Edwards, Mace & Jones, LiverpoolGeoffrey Greenhouse, Greenhouse Stirton & Co, LondonAshley Holmes, Consumers' Association, LondonRobert Venables, Bircham & Co, LondonTim Wallis, Crutes, Cardiff & Newcastle-- Although the committee does not deal with issues arising from specific cases, it is always interested to hear of problems or practical difficulties which solicitors or their clients may have had with dispute resolution, where policy or practice could be improved.

For additional information, contact Ms Simret Parmar, Policy Adviser ADR, at the Law Society, 113 Chancery Lane, London WC2A 1PL, DX 56 London/ Chancery Lane, e-mail: simret.parmar@lawsociety.org.uk