A proposal for an alternative approach to ensure the rapid resolution and redress of cases involving the families of infants injured at birth. This policy brief outlines a governance and operating model for the Rapid Resolution and Redress Scheme for serious birth injuries, including a fully costed business process for its delivery.

This report summarizes the findings of an Oxford research project and an international conference which assessed alternative methods for settling consumer disputes that do not involve the courts.

The report was published on the day the European Commission announced draft legislation on consumer ADR, and comes in response to the finding that many governments are interested in ADR as an alternative to courts to improve access to justice, overcome problems of costs and funding for court mechanisms, and help maintain competitive markets.

How do we ensure that dispute resolution pathways are simple, cost-effective and deliver justice to people and organizations?

This policy brief, written by Dr Christopher Hodges and Professor Stefan Vogenauer of Oxford University, is published as costs and funding are assuming far greater importance as keys to evaluating and providing access to justice.

The findings were drawn upon by Lord Justice Jackson in his influential Costs Review which recommended moving to American style contingency fees, a recommendation that is widely expected to be implemented by the UK coalition government.