The National Arbitration Forum Launches National ADR Educational Awareness Campaign

Minneapolis, MN, November 08, 2005 --(PR.com)-- The National Arbitration Forum (NAF) is launching a national education campaign to heighten awareness about alternative dispute resolution (ADR), its benefits and the importance of exploring alternative options when deciding how to resolve legal disputes. The National Arbitration Forum’s campaign will include a redesigned educational web site, the launch of a national coalition of ADR advocates, a new series of educational publications and an expanded online communications effort, including its expanded NAF Blog.

“Our business exists to provide individuals and businesses with fair and efficient ways to resolve legal disputes,” said Curtis Brown, general counsel of the National Arbitration Forum. “As our nation continues to see the number of disputes rise and the costs of litigation becoming more and more burdensome, now is the right time to educate consumers and businesses about the benefits and range of options available outside the court system, so that they can make informed decisions about how they best handle their disputes.”

The National Arbitration Forum’s campaign will focus on educating individuals, businesses and the legal community about:

* The different types of ADR, including arbitration and mediation;
* The benefits and advantages of various forms of dispute resolution;
* The ethical and legal best-of-class practices in ADR; and
* The specifics about how arbitration, mediation and other forums of dispute resolution work.

The National Arbitration Forum’s campaign will also focus on educating about the legal rights and responsibilities surrounding alternative dispute resolution.

“The National Arbitration Forum has always been committed to education and the advancement of alternatives in the resolution of disputes,” said Roger Haydock, director of education for the National Arbitration Forum and Professor at Law at William Mitchell College of Law. “Although we’ve seen an increase in both arbitration and mediation, there is room for improvement in understanding just how these alternative options work.  The National Arbitration Forum’s campaign aims to “demystify” ADR and help others see that there are ways to resolve disputes more cost-effectively and amicably.”

The National Arbitration Forum has expanded its communications staff and has employed the services of the nationally recognized public relations firm, Tunheim Partners, Inc. in order to effectively accomplish its objectives.   The National Arbitration Forum will officially announce this campaign November 17, 2005 at a reception at its new headquarters in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and on its blog at http://arbitration-forum.blogspot.com.

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