ISSN: 2222-6990
Open access
The layperson representation supports the theory of legal pluralism. The essence is that not only the courts, as the official dispute mechanisms, are places for people to settle their disputes. There are various kinds of ADR outside the courts, as the unofficial dispute mechanisms, which provide alternative methods for parties to resolve their disputes. Using the qualitative approach, this paper serves as an overview of layperson representation in ADR from two perspectives, i.e., as ADR practitioners and as representatives of the disputing parties. The layperson representations are illustrated via the comparative approach of selected forums of dispute settlements in Malaysia and some foreign jurisdictions. The paper concludes that even though layperson representation is essential, it is clear from the discussion that the rigidity in applying layperson representation without the flexibility in getting legal representation whenever the needs arise is not an ideal perspective. The layperson representation concept in ADR should be used appropriately in consideration of serving better justice. It should not be an alternative to legal representation at the expense of ignoring technical legal issues that arise in disputes.
Amin, N., & Abu Bakar, E. (2010). ADR for consumers: An appraisal of the tribunal for consumer claims in Malaysia in Jan, M. N. I., Mohamed, A. A. A., & Ali, A. (2010). Mediation in Malaysia: The Law and Practice, Selangor: LexisNexis at pp.175-176.
Aminuddin, M. (2011). Malaysian Industrial Relations Employment Law (7th ed.). McGraw-Hill (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, at pp. 208, 238.
Asian International Arbitration Centre. (2021). Become A Panellist.
https://www.aiac.world/Become-A-Panellist-/B
Asian International Arbitration Centre. (2018). Mediation Rules. https://www.aiac.world/wp-content/mediation-rules/AIAC-Mediation-Rules-2018.pdf
Astor, H., & Chinkin, C. (2002) Dispute Resolution in Australia. (2nd.ed.) Lexis Nexis Butterworths., Chapter 3, pp.82 to 95.
Chief Registrar, Federal Court of Malaysia. (2016). Practice Direction No. 4 of 2016 Practice Direction on Mediation Consumer Protection Act 1999
Cronin, B. T. [2019]. Explaining and changing the price of litigation services, New Zealand Law Journal, pp. 310-319, at p. 318.
de Sousa Santos, B. (2006). The heterogeneous state and legal pluralism in Mozambique. Law & Society Review, 40(1), 39-76, at pp. 41, 46, 47, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58.
Faruqi, S. S. (2015). The power of different courts, The Star newspaper. https://www.malaysianbar.org.my/article/news/legal-and-general-news/legal-news/the-power-of-different-courts
Genn, H. (1993). Tribunals and Informal Justice, The Modern Law Review Limited. pp.393-411, https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1468-2230.1993.tb02680.x
Hak, N. A. (2008). Reconciliation Provision under English and Malaysian Family Law: A Comparative Overview. The Law Review 2008, pp.104-118, at p.114
http://irep.iium.edu.my/6479/1/Reconciliation_The_Law_Review.pdf
Ivkovic, S. K. (2007). Exploring Lay Participation in Legal Decision-Making: Lessons from Mixed Tribunals. Cornell International Law Journal. Vol.4: Iss.2, Article 4, 429-451
Law Council of Australia. (2020). Alternative Dispute Resolution.
https://www.lawcouncil.asn.au/policy-agenda/access-to-justice/alternative-dispute-resolution
Gramckow, H., & Ebeid, O. (2016). Establishing small claims courts and the impact on service delivery in the justice system. Just Development Issue 9.
http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/363681467994719303/pdf/104145-BRI-PUBLIC-SERIES-JUST-DEVELOPMENT-21-3-2016-23-32-58-Just-Development-Note-February2016-Issue9.pdf,.
Griffiths, J. (1986). What is legal pluralism? The Journal of Legal Pluralism and Unofficial Law, 18(24), 1-55, at p. 3. https://heinonline.org/HOL/Licence.
Machura, S. (2016). Civil Justice : Lay Judges in the EU countries. O?atiSocio-legal series [online] 6(2) 235-254. http:ssrn.com/abstract=2665612
Moore, S. F. (2014). Legal Pluralism as Omnium Gatherum. FIU L. Rev., 10, 5. at p. 18. https://ecollections.law.fiu.edu/lawreview/vol10/iss1/.
Practical Law. (2021). Glossary Alternative dispute resolution (ADR). https://uk.practicallaw.thomsonreuters.com/
Republic of Singapore Government Gazette Acts Supplement. (2018) Small Claims Tribunals (Amendment) Act 2018. https://sso.agc.gov.sg/Acts-Supp/33-2018/Published/20180810?DocDate=20180810.
Safei, S. (2010). Tribunal For Consumer Claims – An Alternative Method of Dispute Settlement for Consumers in Malaysia. Paper presented at Prosiding Seminar Kebangsaan MACFEA ke 14, Halatuju Penyelidikan Kepenggunaan. [14th National Seminar Proceeding MACFEA, Future Direction of Research in Consumerism : Issues and Challenges]. Equatorial Hotel Bangi, Bandar Baru Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia.
Sitravelu, M. N. (1983). “Conciliatory Bodies in Klang and Petaling Jaya”, Academic Exercise, Faculty of Law, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur Small Claims Tribunals Act 1984
States Courts, Singapore. (2020). A Guide to SCT
https://www.statecourts.gov.sg/cws/SmallClaims/Documents/AGuideToSCTBrochure_06042020(ed).pdf , at p. 16.
States Courts, Singapore. (2019). Practice Directions Amendment No.4 of 2019.https://www.statecourts.gov.sg/cws/Resources/Documents/PD%204%20of%202019.pdf?fbclid=IwAR2DrxT7zJaU5LB0-aefppIz25cW1NXO-yPEb4jr-ZbdsRWuoiEplLcUQKs.
Sourdin, T. (2005) Alternative Dispute Resolution (2nd.ed.) Lawbook Co., at pp.17-39.
Wright, D. (2017). The Conversation, Language puts ordinary people at a disadvantage in the criminal justice system, https://phys.org/news/2017-08-language-ordinary-people-disadvantage-criminal.html
Yeoh, A. L., Ismail, M. C. T., Mohamed, K., & Bidin, A. (2011). Employment and Industrial law. Pearson Prentice Hall, at p.8.
In-Text Citation: (Safei & Abdullah, 2021)
To Cite this Article: Safei, S., & Abdullah, N. C. (2021). Layperson Representation in Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR): A Legal Analysis. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 11(11), 91 – 104.
Copyright: © 2021 The Author(s)
Published by Human Resource Management Academic Research Society (www.hrmars.com)
This article is published under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) license. Anyone may reproduce, distribute, translate and create derivative works of this article (for both commercial and non-commercial purposes), subject to full attribution to the original publication and authors. The full terms of this license may be seen at: http://creativecommons.org/licences/by/4.0/legalcode