Researching Online Dispute Resolution to Expand Access to Justice
Ohio State Legal Studies Research Paper No. 680
Amy J. Schmitz, Lola Akin Ojelabi and John Zeleznikow, Researching Online Dispute Resolution to Expand Access to Justice, GIUSTIZIA CONSENSUALE (CONSENSUAL JUSTICE) 269-303 (2022).
37 Pages Posted: 28 Jan 2022 Last revised: 3 Mar 2022
Date Written: January 26, 2022
Abstract
There is a global access to justice crisis. Individuals do not have uniform access to lawyers, courts and remedies – with the most vulnerable individuals generally having the least and worst access. With this in mind, scholars and policymakers have argued for “online dispute resolution” (ODR) to expand access to justice (A2J). Although there is no generally accepted definition of ODR, it includes use of the Internet to prevent and/or resolve disputes. This means that ODR includes online problem diagnosis and self-help tools, as well as technologies to promote online negotiation, mediation, arbitration, community courts, and variations thereof. Nonetheless, ODR comes with perils and it is necessary to revamp research regarding ODR to promote A2J. This article will discuss ideas regarding ODR regulation and research – again with a goal toward expanding A2J.
Keywords: ODR, ADR, online dispute resolution, legal tech, legal technology, dispute resolution, A2J, access to justice, research
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation