DoJ - Alternative Dispute Resolution Research Project

Tender description

This research will be undertaken on behalf of the Northern Ireland Department of Justice (DOJ). In September 2010, the Justice Minister commissioned an independent review of legal aid provision in Northern Ireland with a view to developing proposals on how best to help people secure access to justice while achieving value for money in the use of public funds. When commissioning the review the Minister placed particular emphasis on the need to find alternatives to court for resolving disputes. The Department of Justice now wish to appoint a suitably experienced service provider to undertake a research project mapping the existing provision of Alternative Dispute Resolution within Northern Ireland. 2.2 The proposed research will comprehensively map the current provision for Alternative Dispute Resolution in Northern Ireland, in particular, for mediation and conciliation, whether Government, private or voluntary sector initiatives. The project will consider for each provider the range of disputes covered; funding; capacity (in terms of both number of mediators and number of clients); geographical scope; training and accreditation of mediators; cost; accessibility including publicity and referral mechanisms; screening for suitability; confidentiality; and evaluation or other publication of information about success rates.