Minimum Requirements

Membership on the New Era ADR Neutral Bench is limited to (a) neutrals who are already a member of the National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals or (b) any other neutral that demonstrates interest and who New Era ADR selects based on their experience and knowledge.

<aside> 🔑 All New Era Neutrals must meet stringent criteria and are among the most in-demand attorneys in their respective practice areas.  The following list are the minimum requirements for any particular individual to be considered for the New Era ADR Neutral Bench (exceptions may be made for attorneys and non-attorneys who have a particularly high level of expertise within certain practice areas):

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• Nominees to serve as neutrals must be professional attorneys in civil/commercial practice with a minimum of 15 years of uninterrupted licensed practice. In addition, nominees to serve as mediators must have mediated a minimum of five (5) disputes to final settlement. Neutral nominees do not have to be licensed attorneys when a particularly high level of expertise in certain industries can be shown.

<aside> 🔑 In all cases, priority will be given to nominees who add to the diversity of our Neutral Bench’s collective backgrounds, knowledge, or experience.

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• Nominees with litigation experience must have been involved in a minimum of 10 trials with significant first chair experience (exceptions may be made in the case of former judges, where written decisions from the bench may be considered). Nominees without litigation experience (e.g., corporate/transactional) must demonstrate a high level of expertise in their area of law. Waivers of the total benchmarks may be considered by New Era ADR in cases of exceptional experience and qualifications.
• If you are an attorney, you must be in good standing with your local State Bar association. This does not apply to non-attorneys who have a high level of expertise within certain practice areas, but any such candidate may not have any current or former disciplinary proceeding in their particular vocation.

<aside> 🔑 Nominees who meet the list of minimum requirements must submit materials for consideration, including biography/CV, and references in the following manner:

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1. If the nominee is already a professional neutral but not a member of the National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals, then contact info must be submitted for a minimum of 4 attorneys (opposing counsel for 2 cases) for whom the neutral has mediated or arbitrated civil disputes in the preceding 6 months; or

1. If the nominee is not currently a professional neutral, then contact info must be submitted for a minimum of (A) four attorneys who are not at their current or previous firms and (B) although not mandatory, ideally at least one existing or former client.

1. References may then be contacted by phone by New Era ADR staff for discussion as to nominee's approach, effectiveness, professionalism and reputation as a neutral and/or attorney within their profession.

To apply to be a neutral, please complete and submit the form below:

https://form.jotform.com/211545232415143