Supreme Court launches online mediation training web portal

“New Delhi: The Supreme Court has launched an online mediation training web-portal, developed by NALSA in collaboration with the top court’s Mediation and Conciliation Project Committee over a span of five months.

This initiative introduced a comprehensive 40+ hour online training module, combining theoretical knowledge with practical skills, covered by 50+ lectures on 20 topics pertaining to mediation and 10+ hours of online/ interactive practical sessions.

Commending NALSA for conceptualising and developing this online mediation training course by bringing together the stalwarts in the field, Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud stated that this training programme will help make mediation the first and default mode of dispute resolution by training lawyers, judges, law students etc in the art of mediation.”

More information at the link below:

https://www.deccanherald.com/india/supreme-court-launches-online-mediation-training-web-portal-3197179

NCTDR Fellow Richard Susskind appointed Special Envoy for Justice and AI by Commonwealth Secretary-General

The Commonwealth Secretary-General, the Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC, has appointed Prof Richard Susskind OBE KC (Hon) as her Special Envoy for Justice and Artificial Intelligence.

Prof Susskind is the world’s most cited author on the future of legal services. He is President of the Society for Computers and Law and served as Technology Adviser to the Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales from 1998 to 2023.

He has been working on artificial intelligence and the law since the 1980s when he undertook pioneering work in the field.

Using AI to ensure equal access to justice 

In his new role, Prof Susskind will be responsible for supporting the 56 Commonwealth countries in achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16: ensuring equal access to justice for all by 2030, using artificial intelligence (AI).

He will bring to the role decades of experience in leveraging artificial intelligence responsibly to transform the legal sector, from courts and justice delivery to public legal education and the work of lawyers.

Announcing the appointment today, Secretary-General Patricia Scotland said:

‘We know that the progress towards SDG 16 is not on track. Artificial intelligence, when harnessed properly, can be a powerful tool to get us back on track.

‘Prof Susskind’s record of engagement in justice and artificial intelligence makes him eminently suited to drive the Commonwealth’s Equal Access to Declaration in line with SDG 16.

‘Armed with his talent, we will be able to offer far more comprehensive support to our countries as they accelerate justice transformation, which is so direly needed to bring justice within reach for all.’

Speaking about the appointment, Prof Richard Susskind said:

‘I am immensely honoured to be appointed Special Envoy for Justice and AI and so to help the 56 Commonwealth countries to ensure equal access to justice for all by 2030.

This comes at an ideal time – remarkable recent developments in AI will transform the way that people can understand and enforce their legal rights.’

Prof Susskind joins seven other distinguished individuals serving as the Secretary-General’s special envoys and champions” (The Commonwealth).

International ODR Forum June 5-6, 2024 in Prague

This hybrid ODR Forum will bring together leading experts from alternative dispute resolution, law, academia, the tech industry, government and business to explore the changing landscape of technology and dispute handling. Join us at the Czech Institute of Informatics, Robotics and Cybernetics! For program and registration click here.

The Supreme People’s Court’s “one-stop” diversified international commercial dispute resolution platform has been upgraded and revised and is available online

As of March 31, 2024, the Supreme People’s Court’s “one-stop” diversified international commercial dispute resolution platform (commonly referred to as the “one-stop” platform) has been revamped and updated online. Its website, which includes the International Commercial Court, is now live and available for use (https://cicc.court.gov.cn/pc).

The “one-stop” platform is a comprehensive platform that comprises four functional modules: mediation services, arbitration services, litigation services, and auxiliary services (neutral evaluation + case scheduling). It is linked to various legal websites, including the International Commercial Court of the Supreme People’s Court, the Litigation Service Network of the Supreme People’s Court, and the People’s Court Online security system, People’s Court mediation platform, People’s Court Internet unified identity authentication system, and Supreme People’s Court case handling platform. Additionally, it is connected with ten international commercial arbitration institutions and two international commercial mediation institutions that have integrated into the “one-stop” diversified international commercial dispute resolution mechanism system. Once logged in, the parties have the freedom to choose the most appropriate dispute resolution method, depending on their needs, such as neutral evaluation, mediation, arbitration or litigation.

For international commercial disputes where the amount in question is more than RMB 300 million, or for other international commercial disputes that have a significant impact, parties can apply for neutral evaluation before turning to mediation, arbitration or litigation. They can choose neutrality in the “auxiliary services” of the “one-stop” platform. The evaluation function involves applying to the International Commercial Expert Committee of the Supreme People’s Court to provide professional evaluation opinions based on the case situation. This will enable the parties to obtain sufficient information to judge the possible litigation results and choose the most suitable dispute resolution method.

If parties involved in a dispute require mediation, they can utilize the “Mediation Service” module to apply for mediation by an international commercial mediation agency or expert committee. If parties require arbitration services, they can click on the “Arbitration Services” module and choose to apply for arbitration. The case will then be reviewed and filed by the relevant arbitration institution. If a party applies for preservation during arbitration, the accepting arbitration institution will conduct a formal review. Then, they will send a transmittal letter to the International Commercial Court and initiate an application for preservation. If parties need to revoke a mainland arbitration award, apply for recognition and enforcement of an overseas arbitration award, or file a lawsuit, they can click on the “Litigation Service” module. This will allow them to enter the Supreme People’s Court Litigation Service Network and apply for online filing.

The “one-stop” platform has created a dispute resolution system that is diverse, standardized in process, and efficient in connection. Parties can choose between different dispute resolution methods through the platform and switch between different platforms. This not only helps to improve the efficiency of dispute resolution but also reduces the time and economic costs of the entire process.

https://baijiahao.baidu.com/s?id=1795134649570523859&wfr=spider&for=pc

https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/wSBAvH8ReaKgdmCfWgzwEQ

New OECD Report on ODR in Latvia

From Cambridge University Professor Felix Steffik on Linkedin: “Today, the OECD has published its report on ‘Developing Effective Online Dispute Resolution in Latvia’. The report documents the assessment of online dispute resolution in Latvia and summarises key policy recommendations to support its development. It draws from the prior influential work of the OECD on access to justice, for example, the OECD Recommendations on Access to Justice and People-Centred Justice Systems.

I had the immense pleasure to contribute to this project as an international expert and would like to extend my gratitude to the entire OECD team, the EU representatives and everyone involved in Latvia. The two years with this project were full of inspiration and passion to chart the right path for online dispute resolution. I am delighted to see the report in its final version. It is a treasure trove of strategies for designing and regulating online dispute resolution.

You can read the report here: https://lnkd.in/e3cxUPJS

2024 Prague ODR Forum

Please mark your calendars to join us June 5-6, 2024 in Prague for the 24th ODR Forum! NCTDR Fellow (and new ICODR board member) Zbynek Loebl is hosting the event… many will remember the time he hosted the forum a decade ago, and it was one of the best. With all the developments in AI and across Europe, this forum will be incredibly rich. So mark your calendars — we hope to see you there!

On October 11-12, the 23rd International ODR Forum will be held at the Cyberjustice Laboratory of the Université de Montréal. Join us for this hybrid conference.

The 23rd International ODR Forum is a two-day hybrid conference of innovators, changemakers and thought leaders from various sectors, such as business, society, and government. This event serves as a platform for inspiring and envisioning the future of Online Dispute Resolution (ODR). Find more info here and registration access here