What is the definition of a neutral?
When a lawyer serves as a neutral third party to help two or more individuals who are not clients resolve a dispute or other issue that has arisen between them, the lawyer acts as a mediator. The lawyer may act as an arbitrator, mediator, or in any other position that allows the lawyer to help the parties in resolving the dispute as a neutral third party. Unrepresented parties must be informed that they are not represented by a third-party impartial counsel. When a lawyer knows or should know that a party does not comprehend the lawyer’s position in a case, the lawyer must explain the difference between the lawyer’s duty as a neutral third party and the lawyer’s role as a client advocate.
In the civil court system, the importance of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) has grown. Lawyers often serve as third-party neutrals in addition to representing clients in conflict resolution procedures. A neutral third person, such as a mediator, arbitrator, conciliator, or evaluator, helps parties, whether represented or underrepresented, in settling a dispute or arranging a transaction. Whether a third-party neutral acts mainly as a facilitator, assessor, or decision maker depends on the method chosen by the parties or mandated by the court.
Lawyers aren’t the only ones who can serve as a third-party neutral, but in certain court-related situations, only lawyers are allowed to do so or handle specific kinds of cases. Court rules or other legislation that apply to third-party neutrals in general or attorneys doing this work explicitly may impose restrictions on the lawyer.
Lawyer vs. Non-Lawyer
Lawyers, unlike non-lawyers who fill this function, may face particular challenges as a consequence of the distinctions between the positions of third-party impartial and client representative. When parties aren’t represented throughout the process, there’s a lot of room for misunderstanding. As a result, an unrepresented party is informed that their lawyer will not be representing them. For some parties, especially those who participate in dispute resolution on a regular basis, this knowledge will be enough. Others, especially those who are doing the operation for the first time, may need more information. The essential differences between the lawyer’s position as a third-party neutral and the lawyer’s role as a client representative, particularly the inapplicability of the attorney-client evidentiary privilege in some situations, should be made clear to unrepresented parties. The quantity of information that must be provided under this paragraph varies depending on the parties involved, the nature of the proceedings, and the components of the dispute-resolution process chosen.
When Should You Use a Neutral
When used early in the litigation process, an objective evaluation may assist you and your client decide whether to proceed at all by balancing the cost of litigation against the probability of victory. Identifying unknowns and their significance, creating potential legal theories and their essential components, assessing risks, prioritizing discovery, and so on may all benefit from the impartial evaluator’s assistance. Alternatively, the neutral may provide you with a confidential assessment of your client’s accusations and how to respond to them.
An impartial evaluator may assist with the research of a single subject or all of the problems, as well as the formulation of a summary judgment argument, after the game has begun. Is there anything missing from your case that you need to complete before the discovery period ends? What is the most convincing of your arguments, and how do you convey it? Which of your opponents’ arguments is the most convincing? Which one of the arguments is a ruse? Do you need to make a choice right away? Is it for the sake of discovering the truth or for the sake of discovering the truth? What are the most likely alternatives for a settlement? Which of the jury instructions are the most important? Where should you be careful when it comes to avoiding mistakes?
What happens after a trial or arbitration?
Experienced appellate lawyers often seek a second opinion on an appeal brief (any appellate judge will encourage all attorneys, no matter how experienced, to have a nonparticipant who is literate in appellate advocacy review your briefs closely before you file them). Appeals attorneys often make Moot arguments before a panel of former appellate judges.
Cost?
Clearly, there must be a significant number of lives at stake to warrant the expense. The cost is determined on the task: two or three hours spent evaluating problems and preparing with counsel will be very inexpensive. Consultation at various phases of the process may result in much more.
The essential is that you have full control: first, since the letter of agreement specifies the length of time permitted, and second, because you choose which work and materials will be evaluated. Written evaluations, informal conversations, meetings with consumers and boards of directors – any time you or your case might benefit from a second (experienced) set of eyes – are all instances of how the process can take any shape that is beneficial to you.
