Press release

Views sought on dispute resolution vision

A major call for evidence was launched by the Government today (3 August 2021), seeking views on the best ways to settle family, business and other civil disputes away from the court room.

  • Technology and dispute resolution at heart of future system, say Ministers
  • Call for evidence will explore ways for people to resolve problems more quickly and cheaply
  • It will look at how more individuals, families and businesses can resolve their issues without the stress and cost of a court case

Responses will shape future reforms to civil, family and administrative justice, with Ministers determined to help more people resolve their issues without the stress and cost of a court case. It will examine whether new technologies, as well as services such as mediation and conciliation, could provide smarter and less adversarial routes for finding resolutions.

The step looks to build on the success of recent reforms which have seen civil money claims, damages, enforcement, parts of the tribunals, and public and private law family claims move online – with users of those services reporting high satisfaction.

Evidence is being gathered from a range of interested parties including the judiciary, legal profession, mediators and other conflict resolvers, academics, and the advice sector. It will provide the basis for future reforms later in this parliament.

Lord Chancellor, Robert Buckland QC MP, said

We want the public, families and businesses to be able to resolve disputes easily and with as little stress as possible – avoiding often lengthy and costly court battles.

That is why I am delighted to launch this important call for evidence which will help shape our plans to harness new technologies and ensure more people can get resolutions in ways that work for them.

I look forward to hearing a range of views that will be invaluable in informing our next steps.

Lord Wolfson, Justice Minister, said

With nearly 30 years of experience as a commercial lawyer, I know the benefits of finding amicable agreements early to help parties move on constructively.

Too often the courts aren’t the best means for reaching such outcomes. That is why we want to improve the range of options available to people to resolve their issues, ensuring less adversarial routes are considered the norm rather than the alternative.  

I urge anyone with an interest to contribute to this call for evidence, which will help us to create a better and fairer justice system as we build back from the pandemic.

Litigation will always remain as an option open to everyone, and some cases will inevitably require people to go to court.

But the Government wants people to have a greater range of options to settle disagreements proactively and constructively – via routes most appropriate for their particular case.

It comes as research shows that more than 70% of those using mediation services will resolve their issues outside of a courtroom. In 2019, only 3% of the two million civil proceedings issued went to trial, showing the vast majority of claims can be resolved without the need for a judgment.

In one case, mediators were able to settle a dispute between two sisters who disagreed over what to do with a £1m flat left to them in their mother’s will. Mutual distrust between the two meant that face-to-face mediation risked making the situation worse. One wanted to sell the property, and the other wanted to refurbish and let it out.

A qualified mediator was able to meet each sister separately and forge a path towards a suitable settlement, with one of the sisters paying the other half of the value of the flat.

In another case, a mediator settled the differences between a separated couple who could not agree on child arrangements. The father had not seen his nine-year-old daughter for three months, despite previously having regular contact. Insisting on taking the case to court, the mother and father were persuaded to have a mediation session before going to a judge. This support helped the couple to reach an agreement – setting the conditions for the father to see his daughter again.

Beverley Sayers, FMC director and accredited mediator, said on the case:

Mediation can help people who seem poles apart reach agreement. This case illustrates how helping parents focus on their child’s needs enabled them to reach an immediate agreement with positive outcomes for all parties involved.

Going to court would have taken much longer, likely resulting in considerable more anguish for the child and parents, who would have had no control over the outcome.

The call for evidence will last for eight weeks. It follows a landmark family mediation voucher scheme launched by the Government in March, backed with £1m in funding, which has already benefitted hundreds of families with more than half the vouchers used.

Notes to editors:

Published 3 August 2021