Proposal to add a requirement that attorney engagement letters inform clients about the information on alternative dispute resolution (ADR) options and programs available on the NYS Unified Court System’s website

SUMMARY

The Committee on Alternative Dispute Resolution submitted a proposal to New York State Chief Administrative Judge A. Gail Prudenti recommending that Part 1215 of Title 22 of the Official Compilation of Codes, Rules and Regulations of the State of New York be amended to require that attorney engagement letters inform clients about the information on alternative dispute resolution (ADR) options and programs available on the New York State Unified Court System’s website. The proposal is intended to promote knowledge of ADR options and ensure clients are informed about these alternatives. According to the committee, mediation and alternative dispute resolution programs benefit both the court system and potential or actual litigants and under the right circumstances ADR programs are appropriate tools to help address a huge volume and wide panoply of disputes in the judicial system.