AI has moved from possibility to practice in alternative dispute resolution (ADR). The focus now must be on how we implement it responsibly.
This is one of the major themes discussed in the latest episode of the LawNext PR podcast with host Bob Amborgi, ODR.com President and CEO Colin Rule, AAA DVP of Mediation Tracey Frisch, and AAA VP and Associate General Counsel Kelly Turner.
The group also chatted about the upcoming “Arbitration and Mediation in the Age of AI & Hackathon,” co-hosted by the AAA® and Suffolk University Law School.
Taking place on June 12, with a full-day Hackathon to follow on June 13, this dynamic conference will bring together legal professionals for interactive debates, live demonstrations, and real-world case studies exploring AI’s impact on dispute prevention, process integrity, and resolution outcomes.
“We have gone through a one-way gate that is locked behind us, and we are never going to go back to the [ADR] field the way it existed in 2018,” said ODR.com President and CEO Colin Rule about the impact of AI in a discussion about the conference.
From Adoption to Action: How to Get to the Next Step
With such massive leaps forward in AI over the past few years, the need to discuss the technology’s implications for the legal and other industries has never been more vital, especially as an increasing number of organizations are adopting AI on an institutional level.
According to the newly released AI Governance report from the AAA-ICDR Institute™, most senior executives and leaders feel their organizations are not implementing AI governance policies consistently across the lifecycle of the systems being deployed.
This is where the shift from adoption to action is key. These conversations must continue to take place to ensure effective implementation.
However, AI implementation can have its limits, even in the legal industry, as it doesn’t increase access.
How Expanding Access Can Increase Trust in AI
Expanding access to ADR and AI technologies can help people better understand how these systems work and how they can be used effectively in everyday life.
“AI can be a tool, particularly for increasing access to justice for parties who don’t have representation,” said Frisch.
Enter the Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) Innovation Clinic, the partnership between the AAA and Suffolk University Law School. This initiative aims to expand access to family law dispute resolution for underserved communities by creating an accessible, digital process for low-contest divorces and family law matters in Massachusetts, with geographical expansion planned.
By leveraging AI, the clinic provides support in family law cases to self-represented litigants, who tend to be from low- and moderate-income backgrounds and struggle to navigate complex court procedures.
Demystifying AI in the Legal Sector
Discussions, like those at the upcoming conference, can help demystify legal AI through providing transparency about its systems and effective use cases.
These conversations add perspectives and experiences that can drive greater trust and understanding of how to adopt AI in dispute resolution.