The AAA-ICDR® Institute is the thought leadership and research arm of the American Arbitration Association® (AAA®), dedicated to sharing our expertise to advance alternative dispute resolution (ADR) by fostering better understanding of those processes and putting bold ideas into practice. We address critical areas such as court- and government-connected ADR programs, access to justice, fairness in arbitration, and pathways to conflict resolution.
The Institute will improve ADR through data-driven analysis, incisive policy recommendations, and productive partnerships. We work to ensure that arbitration and other ADR methods continue to develop into even more effective tools that promote justice and peace, benefiting individuals, communities, the private sector, and institutions alike.
Focus Areas
Court- and Government-Connected ADR
Program Highlight: AAA–Suffolk Law ODR Innovation Clinic
This ongoing collaboration melds Suffolk Law’s practical, community-focused, and technology-driven approach to legal innovation with the AAA’s decades of experience developing creative, impactful dispute resolution and prevention programs. Together, we are launching a legal clinic in the Boston area that applies online dispute resolution (ODR) techniques to ease the burden on courts and litigants in family law disputes, an area ripe for expanding access to justice.
Access to Justice
Program Highlight: Supporting Entrepreneurship in ADR
The Institute engages with organizations dedicated to scalable technology solutions that will democratize access to justice for the billions of people worldwide who—due to cost, lack of legal expertise, and many other factors—are unable to fully exercise their legal rights. ADR is critical to addressing this justice gap. The Institute is well positioned to surface and support the best and most ambitious solutions.
Fairness in Arbitration
Program Highlight: A Fact-Driven Viewpoint on Consumer and Employment Arbitration
No facet of ADR has sparked more impassioned discourse in recent years than arbitration involving consumers or employees. On one hand, these disputes raise issues important to the businesses that drive our domestic and global economy. On the other, they are central to the lives of individuals who make those businesses run. The AAA has long championed due process protocols, mass arbitration procedures, fee waivers, and other approaches to help ensure fair process for resolving these disputes. The Institute considers all sides of these issues, as well as comprehensive data from AAA administration and court systems, to offer a clear view on what approaches are suited to achieving just outcomes.
AI in ADR
Program Highlight: Lancaster County Consume Credit Card Diversion Program
Recently, the AAA’s Information Services team and the AAA-ICDR Institute developed a technology solution for the Lancaster County Consumer Credit Card Diversion Program. The program is designed to ease court backlogs and streamline settlements. By leveraging our expertise in ADR, software design and generative AI, the AAA collaborated with court staff and the National Center for State Courts to create an automated case management platform. AI-driven tools eliminate manual data entry and accelerate case review, enhancing efficiency and accessibility. We continue to explore ways to expand these advancements to other court systems and beyond.
