Seminars and Events

From time to time, the Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee hosts seminars, symposiums and conferences.

Multi-Door Court House Symposium

The Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee hosted a Symposium on the functions of a "Multi-Door Court House" at Old Parliament House in Canberra on 27 July 2009. Speakers included the Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia, the Hon Chief Justice Robert French, the Federal Attorney-General, the Hon Robert McClelland MP, the Chief Judge of the New South Wales Land and Environment Court, the Hon Justice Brian Preston, the Chief Justice of Western Australia, the Hon Chief Justice Wayne Martin (via video) as well as Professor Frank EA Sander (via video) and Lord Woolf of Barnes (via video).

The Symposium highlighted and discussed the role of a multi-door court and provided participants with a forum to exchange experiences. Attendance at the Symposium was by invitation only. The Committee also hosted a symposium in Adelaide on 16 September 2009.

Inaugural Young Lawyers' Conference

Members of the Committee participated in the "Fundamentals of ADR" session at the inaugural National Young Lawyers' Conference, held in conjunction with the Legal Convention in Perth from 17 to 19 September 2009.

2nd Australian - European Lawyers' Conference

The Chair of the ADR Committee, Ms Mary Walker, attended the 2nd Australian - European Lawyers' Conference in Berlin, Germany, and gave an overview on ADR in Australia and the Multi-Door Court House Concept.

Seminar on Civil Justice Reform & ADR and Online Dispute Resolution

Together with the European Focus Group of the International Law Section, the Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee hosted a seminar in Sydney on 13 November 2008. This free seminar provided a forum for discussion on Civil Justice Reform and ADR, an update on the latest developments in Online Dispute Resolution and a scenario asking the question whether judges should mediate. Speakers included Justice Preston, Justice Bergin and Acting Justice Gyles AO as well as members of the ADR Committee. For some photos taken at the seminar please click here.

The Committee has also hosted seminars in March 2007, July 2007, November 2007 and May 2008. Topics covered at the seminars included online dispute resolution, mediation and arbitration, developments in mediation in family law as well as a general update on ADR related matters, including the work of the ADR Committee.