ADR Schemes For Community Disputes
RESOLVE COMMUNITY DISPUTES AMICABLY AND EFFICIENTLY
Facing disagreements or conflicts within your community? Whether it’s noise, smoke, trespassing, or neighbourly disputes, finding a solution doesn’t have to involve lengthy legal battles. The Law Society of Singapore offers two effective and affordable alternative dispute resolution services to help you reach mutually agreeable outcomes:
1. Community Mediation Services
Mediator: Experienced lawyer trained in conflict resolution who guide parties towards amicable solutions.
Benefits:
- Private & Confidential: Discusses are kept confidential, avoiding unwanted publicity.
- Participant Control: You actively participate in crafting solutions that meet your needs.
- Affordable: Fixed fee of SGD50 nett, shared among parties.
- Efficient: Virtual proceedings typically held within 2 hours.
- Binding Outcomes: Agreements reached are legally enforceable.
Read more about Law Society Community Mediation Services.
2. Community Neutral Evaluation Services
Neutral Evaluator: Impartial lawyer who assesses the strengths and weaknesses of each party’s case.
Benefits:
- Unbiased Assessment: Gain valuable insights into your case’s merits.
- Settlement Guidance: Identify potential solutions and areas of compromise.
- Cost-Effective: Avoid the high costs of litigation.
- Preserves Relationships: Non-adversarial approach fosters understanding and harmony.
- Informed Decisions: Make informed choices about further action.
Read more about Law Society Community Neutral Evaluation Services.
Why Choose Us?
Expertise: Panel of qualified lawyers with extensive conflict resolution experience.
Impartiality: Committed to providing neutral and objective assessments.
Confidentiality: All proceedings and discussions are kept strictly confidential.
Professionalism: Upholding the highest standards of ethics and integrity.
Ready to find a resolution?
Apply for Community Mediation: Fill out the Request for Mediation form.
Apply for Community Neutral Evaluation: Fill out the Application for Neutral Proceeding form.
Contact Us
For queries on the Law Society’s community dispute resolution services, please e-mail adr@lawsoc.org.sg.
Law Society Community Mediation Services
Do you wish to resolve a dispute with a member in your community? You might want to consider mediation
What is Mediation?
Mediation is a private and voluntary process in which mediators help parties work together to resolve conflicts. A mediator is a neutral third-party who helps to resolve differences between members of the community through a process that allows community members to hear each other’s concerns. The mediator will then work with community members to come up with appropriate solutions which can reasonably satisfy the interests of both parties. The goal of mediation is for community members to resolve differences, mend and preserve their relationships privately, all without unwanted publicity or embarrassment.
LAW SOCIETY COMMUNITY MEDIATION SERVICES
The Law Society of Singapore offers quality and affordable mediation for residents who wish to resolve disputes with individuals, groups, or organisations in their community.
The key advantages of Law Society Community Mediation Services (LSCMS) are:
- Mediators are professional: Lawyers are known to be effective mediators and seasoned at handling conflict. All LSCMS mediators are lawyers who have satisfied the minimum criteria of mediator accreditation and mediation experience set by The Law Society of Singapore and each LSCMS mediation proceeding will be facilitated by either one (1) or two (2) mediators appointed by The Law Society of Singapore.
- Mediation is confidential: Mediation proceedings under the LSCMS are private and confidential. All mediation communication can only be disclosed with the consent of the party who made the communication. There is no formal record or transcript of the mediation.
- Mediation gives participants control over their outcomes: The LSCMS allows the parties to be directly involved in the mediation process and the resolution of the matter. Parties are free to agree how, and in what form, they will present or inform the mediator of their case.
- Mediation is affordable: The mediation fee is fixed at SGD50 nett to be shared among the parties.
- Mediation is efficient and saves time: Mediation proceedings will be held virtually (e.g. via Zoom). Each proceeding is typically for a duration of two (2) hours.
- Mediation outcomes are binding on the parties: If mutually agreeable solutions are found, parties will sign a written agreement which will be binding on the parties.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What types of disputes can be mediated through the Law Society Community Mediation Services?
The Law Society Community Mediation Services can assist in resolving various types of disputes within the community. This includes neighbourly disputes, such as excessive noise/smell/smoke/light, littering at or in the vicinity of your home, obstructing your home, interfering with your movable property, conducting surveillance on you or your home, trespassing on your home, etc.
How does mediation differ from going to court or other formal legal processes?
Mediation is a private and voluntary process that provides an opportunity for parties to work together and find mutually agreeable solutions. Unlike going to court or other formal legal processes, mediation is less adversarial, confidential, and allows participants to maintain control over the outcome.
How effective is mediation?
Mediation can be highly effective, even among parties who may initially be unwilling. If mutually agreeable solutions are reached during mediation, the parties will sign a written agreement. The government is exploring the possibility of registering and enforcing settlement agreements as court orders, subject to certain conditions.
Are mediation proceedings confidential?
Yes, mediation proceedings under the Law Society Community Mediation Services are private and confidential. The discussions and communications that take place during mediation cannot be disclosed without the consent of the party who made the communication. There is no formal record or transcript of the mediation.
How long does a mediation proceeding typically last?
Each mediation proceeding facilitated by the Law Society Community Mediation Services is typically scheduled for a duration of two (2) hours. This allows sufficient time for the parties to present their concerns, engage in discussion, and work towards a resolution.
Who are the mediators in the Law Society Community Mediation Services?
The mediators in the Law Society Community Mediation Services are professional lawyers who have met the mediator accreditation and mediation experience criteria set by The Law Society of Singapore. They are neutral third parties who facilitate the mediation process and help parties reach a resolution.
How much does mediation through the Law Society Community Mediation Services cost?
The mediation fee for the Law Society Community Mediation Services is fixed at SGD50 nett, which is shared among the parties involved. This affordable fee aims to make mediation accessible to all members of the community.
WHY REFER COMMUNITY DISPUTES TO US?
The Law Society of Singapore is committed to providing excellent alternative dispute resolution services. Our panel consists of qualified lawyers with extensive expertise in conflict resolution. Their wealth of knowledge and experience ensures an unbiased assessment of disputes. We take pride in our commitment to impartiality, confidentiality, and professionalism.
To apply for mediation, fill out the Request for Mediation form
today to discover how we can assist you in resolving community disputes.
Law Society Community Neutral Evaluation Services
Resolve Community and Neighbour Disputes with Neutral Evaluation
Are you dealing with community or neighbour disputes that appear difficult to resolve? Are you searching for an effective and impartial approach to restore harmony within your community? Look no further! We offer neutral evaluation, a powerful tool for conflict resolution.
WHAT NEUTRAL EVALUATION IS
Neutral evaluation is an alternative dispute resolution process where parties present their case to a neutral third party. The evaluator carefully assesses the dispute, listens to all parties’ concerns, and provides an unbiased evaluation of the case’s strengths and weaknesses. Although non-binding, this evaluation helps narrow the issues, identify potential settlements, and assess trial success likelihood.
HOW NEUTRAL EVALUATION CAN HELP TO RESOLVE COMMUNITY DISPUTES
Neutral evaluation is a valuable tool for resolving community and neighbour disputes. It helps parties understand their case’s strengths and weaknesses, identify potential settlements, and assess trial success likelihood. Compared to litigation, it offers a collaborative, non-adversarial approach that preserves relationships, crucial in community disputes.
With its confidentiality, cost-effectiveness, and efficiency, neutral evaluation serves as an alternative to traditional litigation. It effectively resolves various community disputes, including property conflicts, noise disturbances, and interpersonal issues. By employing neutral evaluation, parties maintain control over the process and outcome, fostering understanding and harmony within the community.
BENEFITS OF NEUTRAL EVALUATION FOR COMMUNITY DISPUTES
- It can help parties to understand the strengths and weaknesses of their case.
- It can help parties to identify potential areas of settlement.
- It can help parties to assess the likelihood of success at trial.
- It can help to reduce the cost and time of litigation.
- It can be a less adversarial process than litigation.
- It can help to preserve relationships between the parties.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How confidential is the neutral evaluation process?
Confidentiality is a crucial aspect of neutral evaluation. The discussions and information shared during the evaluation process are kept confidential and cannot be used as evidence in future proceedings, including litigation.
How does neutral evaluation differ from mediation?
While both neutral evaluation and mediation are forms of alternative dispute resolution, they differ in their primary objectives. Mediation aims to facilitate communication and negotiation between the parties, with a focus on reaching a mutually agreed-upon settlement. On the other hand, neutral evaluation primarily involves an assessment of the case by a neutral third party, who provides an evaluation of its strengths and weaknesses. The evaluator’s role is to help the parties gain a clearer understanding of their positions and potential outcomes, rather than actively mediating negotiations.
WHY REFER COMMUNITY DISPUTES TO US?
The Law Society of Singapore is committed to providing excellent alternative dispute resolution services. Our panel consists of qualified lawyers with extensive expertise in conflict resolution. Their wealth of knowledge and experience ensures an unbiased assessment of disputes. We take pride in our commitment to impartiality, confidentiality, and professionalism.
To apply for neutral proceeding, fill out the Application for Neutral Proceeding form.
Contact us today to discover how we can assist you in resolving community disputes.
Law Society Community Mediation Scheme Resources
Law Society Community Mediation Services Request For Mediation
Law Society Community Neutral Evaluation Scheme
