1. Definition
   1. Parties come to an agreement without litigation
   2. Costs less money
   3. Saves court time
   4. Increases accessibility to dispute resolution
2. Formalised Settlement Conference
   1. Like a 'mini trial' with a neutral judge
   2. Each sides presents a case to a panal of decision making executives from each party and a neutral party
   3. Advantages
      1. Helps facilitate future relationships (no looser)
      2. If unsuccesful, still helps by narrowing down issues
   4. Disadvantages
      1. Decision not binding
3. Negotiation
   1. Direct discussion between 2 parties
   2. Advantages
      1. Privacy - the public don't have to know the terms of the settlement etc
      2. Quickest & Cheapest method
      3. Can continue until trial
   3. Disadvantages
      1. Hired solicitors can be determined to get the best, and end up prolonging the negotiation
4. Arbitration
   1. Objective is to obtain a fair resolution by an impartial tribunal
   2. Parties can agree on number of arbitrators and choose them from the Insitute of Arbitrators
   3. Arbitration Act 1996
   4. Advantages
      1. Privacy - public don't know (besides arbitrators)
      2. Result is binding
   5. Disadvantages
      1. May be unhappy with the decision
      2. Can be formal
      3. May have to pay high arbitrator fees
5. Conciliation
   1. Similar to mediation but concillators play an active role in working out a compromise
   2. Advantages
      1. Privacy - public don't know (besides conciliators)
   3. Disadvantages
      1. Result NOT binding
6. Mediation
   1. Finds common ground with the help of an impartial
   2. Advantages
      1. Privacy - public don't know (besides mediator)
      2. Mediator doesn't give their own opinion
   3. Disadvantages
      1. Result NOT binding
      2. If mediation fails, paying court costs AND mediation costs can be expensive
7. Tribunals
   1. Role: To enforce rights granted through Social Welfare legislation
   2. General Features
      1. The Administrative Justice Tribunals Council ensures
         1. Ran effectiveely
         2. Government Independance
         3. Openness
      2. Ran by HM Courts & Tribunals Service
      3. Quite informal
      4. Not always private
      5. Cannot be used in addition to court
      6. Decision is Binding
      7. Heard by a judge, sometimes 2 lay people with expertise
   3. Advantages
      1. Cheap, order to pay other side's costs is unusual
      2. Expert decisions
      3. Informal & Quick
   4. Disadvantages
      1. Lack of public funding
      2. Formal systems must be followed
      3. Delay / Can take a long time
   5. Uses Include
      1. Employment Law
      2. Social Entitlement
      3. Taxation
      4. Immigration & Asylum
      5. War pensions
      6. Health, Education & Social Care
   6. Hierachy (Highest - Lowest)
      1. Supreme Court
      2. Court of Appeal
      3. Upper Tribunal
      4. 1st Tier