Navigating Environmental Disputes in the UK: Lawyers’ insights into ADR attitudes and experiences

There is a dearth of empirical data on lawyers' attitudes toward alternative dispute resolution (ADR) in the specific context of environmental disputes, which are often characterised by complexity and prolonged litigation. This lack of comprehensive insight into lawyers' perspectives may pose challenges to the effective integration of ADR into the legal landscape. Addressing this gap through targeted initiatives and research could enhance awareness and knowledge, fostering a more informed and adaptive approach to utilising ADR in resolving environmental disputes. Utilising a structured questionnaire distributed among a targeted sample, this research employs statistical analysis to quantitatively assess lawyers' awareness, attitudes towards the use of ADR methods to resolve disputes in the environmental arena. This study contributes to filling a significant research gap by providing empirical insights into lawyers' attitudes towards ADR specifically within the context of environmental sphere in the United Kingdom. The survey findings indicate a spectrum of perspectives and while the sample of legal professionals expressed confidence explaining ADR and some had undergone training, concerns about enforceability, familiarity, and delays hampered its usage. Negotiation and mediation were identified as preferred methods, especially for lower-value environmental disputes. The implications for practice underscore the necessity for targeted educational initiatives to enhance awareness and familiarity with ADR, potentially fostering its greater integration into legal strategies for environmental dispute resolution. The findings also hold significance for policymakers and legal practitioners, informing strategies that could expedite and streamline dispute resolutions in the realm of environmental law, ultimately contributing to a more effective and adaptive legal landscape.