ODRs as digital mechanisms for access to justice in NPJs

Abstract

The study examines the feasibility of integrating Online Dispute Resolutions (ODRs) into the Legal Practice Centers (NPJs) of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) to modernize legal education and expand access to justice. Based on the National Curriculum Guidelines of Resolutions nº. 5/2018 and nº. 2/2021, the importance of alternative online dispute resolution methods, which use information and communication technologies to mediate, arbitrate, and negotiate conflicts efficiently and accessibly, is highlighted. The incorporation of ODRs into NPJs enhances service capacity, reduces costs and procedural delays, and extends the reach of services to vulnerable populations while providing law students with valuable practical experience with modern technologies. The study proposes strategies to overcome technical and legal challenges, including investment in technological infrastructure, curriculum updates, training, and promoting a mindset shift for better acceptance of ODRs. It concludes that the integration of ODRs into NPJs is feasible and beneficial, contributing to an equitable, efficient, and inclusive judicial system. The adoption of these technologies improves the quality of legal assistance, expands access to justice, and better prepares future legal professionals for an increasingly digitalized job market.