If you have a pending small claims or general civil case in court and are not represented by a lawyer, you can still try to resolve your matter through a local dispute resolution center.
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New Guide:
This guide is intended to help mediators extend their skills in mediating with parties face-to-face to the online environment. After outlining a few new aspects in mediating in the online environment, several resources in Zoom usage are suggested, followed by a checklist for use in managing an online mediation. Several examples of language appear, for example in moving into caucus, and then several examples of “helpful hints” in using Zoom are presented.
This document will be revised from time to time, and we encourage mediators to share their recommendations for improving it. Please send any recommendations for inclusion to
cdrp@courts.mi.gov
For more information on these trainings and to view a full training calendar, click here.
Welcome
The Office of Dispute Resolution (ODR) coordinates alternative dispute resolution services of the State Court Administrative Office. The office's primary purposes include: increasing the awareness of dispute resolution options among the legal system's many constituents, assisting judicial stakeholders to integrate dispute resolution processes within the traditional litigation system, administering the Community Dispute Resolution Program, and identifying and developing specialized dispute resolution programs and services.
ODR is responsible for developing dispute resolution practices and protocols for the trial courts, providing technical assistance to the trial courts, implementing dispute resolution practices mandated or permitted by court rule or statute, evaluating dispute resolution systems, and providing recommendations to the state court administrator for improving dispute resolution services for Michigan citizens. The office provides technical assistance to other divisions of the SCAO in designing collaborative dispute resolution systems and in designing and presenting training programs.
ODR oversees the administration of the legislatively created Community Dispute Resolution Program (CDRP). Through this program, grant funding is made available to non-profit and government agencies to provide mediation for disputants in a wide variety of dispute types. Primary services include: developing training programs and materials, publishing reports and public education materials, and grant administration. Additional information about CDRP and its specialized services follows: