As a mediator and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) practitioner, I have witnessed a major shift taking root across the legal landscape: a shift toward what many now refer to as an Integrated Approach to ADR. This is not a mere procedural adjustment or the latest trend in legal services, but a transformation in how we conceptualise, deliver, and uphold justice. The recent adoption of the Gauteng High Court Mediation Protocol is one striking example of this cognitive shift.
An Integrated Approach blends various forms of dispute resolution—such as mediation, restorative justice, arbitration, and negotiation—together with insights from social science disciplines, into a seamless, adaptive process. Rather than committing to a single method at the outset, this model allows practitioners to design hybrid processes that reflect the social, economic, and human dynamics at play in each dispute. More than ever, clients are demanding faster, cost-effective, and less adversarial solutions. And it is not only private individuals making this call. Businesses, government departments, and civil society stakeholders increasingly require processes that deliver genuine resolution, not just legal closure.
An Integrated Approach answers this need, offering flexibility, tailored interventions, and restorative engagement that traditional litigation frequently overlooks. For practitioners, embracing this approach requires a shift in professional culture. Legal professionals must move beyond outdated assumptions and rigid silos. Competence across multiple ADR methods is no longer optional—it is an essential component of the modern legal toolkit. Integration reframes ADR not as a “soft” alternative to litigation, but as a central pillar in delivering meaningful justice.
Join the Conversation: Social Justice ADR Conference 2025
- Hosted by: Social Justice Association (SJA) of ADR Practitioners in collaboration with the Faculty of Law, Department of Commercial Law, University of Cape Town
- Venue: UCT Campus, Cape Town (In-Person and Online Streaming Hybrid Event)
- Dates: 10 & 11 September 2025
Highlights include:
- Keynote Address by Judge Norman Davis on the latest developments in ADR, including the Gauteng High Court Mediation Protocol.
- Panel Discussion by SALRC Advisory Committee members: Prof Debbie Collier-Reed, Prof David Butler, Adv Hendrik Kotze, and Dr Dellene Clark on Paper 168: Progress Made with the Mediation Act.
- Panel on the Family Dispute Resolution Bill (Discussion Paper 100A) featuring Prof Wasahl Domingo, Prof Leentjie de Jong, and Ms Karabo Ozah.
- International Speaker Dr Shaphan Roberts (USA): From Unrest to Understanding: Navigating ZOPA (Zone of Public Anger) Through a Competing Values Framework.
- Day 2: Master classes in Civil & Commercial ADR, Labour & Workplace Mediation, Family Law ADR, and Community Mediation.
Register now & be part of the movement.
Spots are limited. Visit www.sjcon.org.za or email conference@socialjustice.co.za to secure your place and view the full programme.
Let’s shape the future of dispute resolution—together.
