Dispute Resolution Center Serves Entire Community

By J. Bradley Compere

When one thinks of dispute resolution, court-ordered mediation comes to mind. Dispute resolution is generally accepted as a less-costly and less-stressful alternative to trial. But the Dispute Resolution Committee of the HBA is much more than that – it is a “tremendous asset to the community” as a whole, says Executive Director Nick Hall.
The HBA originally opened the Dispute Resolution Center in October 1980, when it was known as the Neighborhood Justice Center. The Neighborhood Justice Center handled disputes referred by the district attorney’s office and the attorney general’s office, usually before the disputes reached litigation. In 1991, the Neighborhood Justice Center officially became the DRC, governed by the HBA’s Dispute Resolution Committee.
The DRC, as it is informally known, has a board made up of 17 lawyers and one non-lawyer, all volunteers. The board has a rotating two-year commitment, with half of the board members changing each year. In addition to the board, there are approximately 350 mediators who volunteer throughout the year. Last year, the DRC accounted for 7,505 volunteer hours, 80 percent of which came from Houston Bar Association attorneys. This year, the DRC projects its volunteer hours will increase to 7,800.
The DRC runs the gamut on dispute resolution matters: small claims matters, family court matters, probate issues, county and civil district court cases, Child Protective Services cases and juvenile cases. “The DRC focuses entirely on assisting the community,” Hall says. Any person in Harris County may use the services offered by the DRC without charge.
Hall also stated that the current focus of the DRC is on the legal needs of Harris County children. For instance, the DRC is working with the Houston Independ-ent School District to expand its juvenile truancy mediation programs. The DRC’s volunteer mediators sit down with school officials, the truant juvenile and his parents to find the solution that best meets the juvenile’s needs. The DRC also hopes to relax the “zero tolerance” policy of truancy within HISD. Hall said the punishment should fit the crime: “Chewing gum in class and bringing a gun to school should be dealt with on different levels.”
In addition, the DRC is working to raise awareness on the sealing of juvenile records. Volunteer lawyers, in conjunction with children’s rights groups, are giving their time to children and their parents to educate them about their legal rights with reference to juvenile records.
In addition to focusing on children’s needs, the DRC provides other programs, such as a project with the University of Texas School of Nursing’s Area Agency on Aging. That program involves the mediation of claims against long-term care facilities.
Further, the DRC continues to provide mediation services to all facets of the Harris County community. Hall said most people are surprised by the amount of volunteer time given by attorneys. “The DRC mediated 2,200 cases last year, many by attorney volunteers.” Through the DRC, attorneys are giving their time and their skills to the community, and everyone benefits.

J. Bradley Compere is an attorney with the firm of Rymer, Moore, Jackson & Echols, P.C. He is a member of The Houston Lawyer Editorial Board.

< BACK TO TOP >