LITIGATION AND ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION

26^th-27^th February, 2026                                                                                                    9^th-10^th April, 2026

14^th-15^th July, 2026                                                                                                            28^th-29^th October, 2026

Introduction

Litigation is the traditional, adversarial court process resulting in a binding, often public, win-lose judgment, whereas Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)—including mediation, arbitration, and negotiation—offers faster, confidential, and flexible, party-driven solutions. While litigation involves formal, public, and costly court procedures, ADR encourages mutually beneficial outcomes, reducing court congestion and preserving relationships. 

Litigation and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) typically covers the traditional court-based litigation process and various methods of resolving disputes outside of court, such as mediation, arbitration, and negotiation. The
course will delve into the strengths and weaknesses of each approach, the procedures involved, and the ethical considerations for practitioners. 

Course contents:

Module One: Introduction to Dispute Resolution:

• Overview of Litigation: The traditional court process, including pre-trial procedures, trial, and appeals. 
• Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR): Exploring various ADR methods as alternatives to litigation. 
• Comparison of Litigation and ADR: Analyzing the advantages and disadvantages of each approach. 
• The Nature of Disputes: Examining the psychological, political, cultural, economic, and social aspects of dispute resolution. 
• Confidentiality and Privacy: Understanding the importance of confidentiality in ADR and the public nature of litigation. 

Module Two: Litigation:

• Civil Procedure: The rules and processes involved in civil litigation. 
• Pleadings and Motions: Understanding how lawsuits are initiated and the initial stages of litigation. 
• Discovery: The process of gathering evidence from the opposing party. 
• Trial: The presentation of evidence and arguments in court. 
• Appeals: The process of challenging a court decision on appeal. 
• Evidence: Rules and principles of evidence in court. 

Module Three: Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR):

·        Mediation:

o   The role of the mediator as a neutral facilitator. 

o   Mediation process and stages. 

o   Techniques for effective mediation. 

o   Reaching a settlement agreement. 

·        Arbitration:

o   Types of arbitration. 

o   Selecting and appointing an arbitrator. 

o   The arbitration process. 

o   Enforcement of arbitration awards. 

·        Negotiation:

o   Negotiation strategies and techniques. 

o   Building relationships for successful negotiation. 

o   Phases of negotiation. 

·        Conciliation:

o   The role of aconciliator. 

o   Conciliation process and its differences from mediation. 

·        Other ADR methods:

o   Collaborative law. 

o   Facilitation. 

o   Neutral evaluation. 

o   Online Dispute Resolution (ODR). 

Module Four: Specific Applications:

• Commercial and Contract Disputes: Applying ADR principles to business and contractual disputes. 
• Labor and Employment Disputes: Resolving workplace conflicts through ADR. 
• Family Law Disputes: Using ADR in divorce and child custody matters. 
• International Commercial Arbitration: Understanding the framework for resolving international business disputes. 

Module Five: Ethical Considerations:

• Ethical duties of ADR practitioners: Adhering to ethical guidelines in mediation, arbitration, and negotiation. 
• Conflicts of interest: Identifying and managing potential conflicts of interest. 
• Confidentiality and disclosure: Maintaining confidentiality in ADR processes. 

Module Six: Dispute System Design:

• Designing effective dispute resolution systems: Creating systems for resolving disputes within organizations or communities. 
• Choosing the right ADR method for a specific dispute: Analyzing the factors that influence the choice of ADR process. 

 Module Seven: Legal and Procedural Issues:

• Jurisdiction and applicable law: Determining the appropriate court or forum for resolving a dispute. 
• Enforcement of ADR outcomes: Ensuring that agreements reached through ADR are legally enforceable. 
• Court-annexed ADR: Understanding the role of courts in facilitating ADR processes. 

Duration: Two (2) days                                                                           Fee: N180,000