The Juripax online platform is uniquely designed to facilitate resolution of online negotiations and dispute-resolution proceedings. It is ideally suited for fully online proceedings, but can also supplement and be integrated into traditional judicial or meeting-based claim-handling and dispute-resolution procedures. The platform offers numerous features including streamlined back-office functions, administrative intake, case-management tools, tools for collaborative writing projects, facilitation of secure and confidential discussions and document management.
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The platform allows the use of any language character set. Initially, Juripax will support communication in English, German, Dutch, French and Spanish. This capability will ultimately be extended to additional languages.
For languages other than those currently available, users may overcome the language by selecting a language in which the discussion will be conducted, so that all users are able to fully understand the discussion.
Translation services, performed by a certified professional translation service, will be available to have text in other languages translated. Users may opt to use this third-party translation service to have the discussion (or part of it) translated into a language of their choosing.
The service is accessible online and the text is uploaded automatically onto the discussion platform when the translation has been completed.
An available option ideally suited for grievance- and complaint-handling procedures is for the user to file their grievance or complaint in a questionnaire format in the language of their preference. The Juripax system can subsequently translate this “intake” into the language of the respondent or users responsible for addressing the issue. This feature is available on request.
The discussion-forum constitutes the main dialog tool through which the facilitator and the parties communicate. It enables information to be exchanged, issues to be explored, ideas to be discussed and disagreements to be resolved online, based on the preferred process, style and professional code.
The discussion forum serves two primary functions: First, it contains all case-relevant information, including the name of participants, their possible representative or (legal) counsel, the filing date, case/docket or filing date, as well as all pre-mediation information collected during the intake and the ongoing negotiations.
Second, it incorporates a “cockpit” for all participants to interact electronically and perform tasks such as to send and receive messages, exchange information and documents or collaborate on writing projects such as when drafting joint documents, e.g. a settlement agreement.
For convenience purposes, and at the user’s option, communications in the discussion forum can be saved and printed in a single Word document.
Juripax’ communication medium is text-based asynchronous communication. Asynchronous (delayed) communication overcomes the problems associated with differing time zones and eliminates the need for travel. Parties can simply log into the ongoing discussion at different times and different places. There is no need for participants to respond immediately, allowing for less-emotional and more-reflective communication than is the case with live communications.
On the discussion board, the user can upload a variety of digital documents, such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files, as well as pictures and graphics in any common format.
To include documents that are not available electronically, any hard-copy document can be faxed to the dedicated Juripax fax service. The service will scan the documents into PDF format and automatically upload the documents to the discussion forum.
To send a new message, the user enters a message subject along with the message text and selects a recipient from the recipient list. A spell check feature is also available.
Based on extensive research in the field of procedural justice and Juripax' years of experience in the field of online mediation, Juripax has developed a dedicated family of emoticons to meet the requirements of participants engaged in online dispute-resolution processes. Juripax' Mediaticons, rendered as emoticons rather than just in the body text, are geared towards helping disputing parties all over the world to better express their emotions and facilitate intercultural negotiations in tune with today’s globalization.
The administrative intake refers to the process of collecting the administrative data (name, contact details etc.) and other relevant information concerning the complaint or dispute.
To expedite the administrative process, an interface can be established where participant’s contact information and/or transaction details can be retrieved directly from the source. For example, this feature can be used for e-commerce or court-referred conflicts where the information is readily available at the referral source.
The case-management display screen allows the user to manage cases more effectively and with greater efficiency. In situations where there are numerous pending cases, the system will, at the user’s option, automatically perform sort or search functions, and set due dates for action items. New messages will be highlighted to alert the user of any developments for each case. Recipients are alerted by e-mail that a new message is available in the discussion forum. The e-mail will contain a link to the secure Juripax website, where the message can be viewed.
To enhance the effectiveness of claim-handling or dispute-resolution proceedings, whether they are conducted online or offline, the platform enables users to engage in preliminary discussions with the (neutral) services provider. A typical example is the “reference-based” dialogue tool where the system poses multiple-choice-type questions which, based on past experiences and best practices with this type of complaint or conflict, relate to a certain type of issue.
As such, in preparation for a mediation process, the neutral may have a confidential dialog with the participants to clarify positions, determine underlying interests and narrow down the issues in preparation for the actual discussions between the parties.
The neutral has several additional tools available to manage the communication process:
Prior to the start of any proceeding, individual authorizations are established for each participant and the neutral. Depending on the nature of the proceedings, facilitators and/or neutrals usually have more extended “authority” on the discussion board than the participants. For instance, a neutral can decide whom to communicate with, whereas parties cannot always see the other parties’ messages. In arbitration proceedings, where ex-parte communications are to be avoided, the “authorization” will be set accordingly.
Also, in cases of collaborative writing projects, the authorization to set the authorization profiles for parties designated to modify or accept the agreement is exclusively in the hands of the neutral.
Similarly, it is the neutral who decides whether participants can upload evidence or documents to be shared.
A memo field, which functions as an electronic “post-it,” is available for the user to make a notation or reminder for personal use. At the user’s option these memos can be saved for future reference.
Tools that support textual communication are irrelevant in the traditional, spoken context. Online they can strongly facilitate, even in part substitute for, the neutral’s challenging task to level the power balances between parties. An important tool available to the neutral for engaging in discussions with the participants is to suggest that participants provide statements such as an opening statement or a pre-mediation statement. The platform allows parties to provide such a statement, but limits it to a certain amount of characters. All parties have the same limitation/allowance for these statements.
Similarly, a spell checker, accommodating several languages, is available, not only to correct misspellings and typos but also to level the power balances between parties and avoid possible notions of bias.
Parties who have reached agreement can jointly draft the settlement agreement on the discussion board. The platform resides on a secure website that is accessed with name and password. To facilitate efficient drafting of jointly owned documents, text-editing and version-management tools, such as the option to track changes (without the need of sending versions back and forth), are available.
Another option available is the use of standard text templates which can be combined with custom text for ease of preparation of common documents, such as opening statements, MOU’s or settlement agreements.
This feature allows users to create uniform templates which can be part of their customized documentation. Additionally, these templates can be used by fellow case managers or co-workers in their external communications.
Similarly, public sample-language templates may be shared with neutral professionals worldwide.
Individual and business entities can have their own version of the Juripax platform uniquely branded with their own name. Through access to the Juripax software and database, a branded site works just like the Juripax platform, but will carry customized logos, design and color scheme. The platform can be integrated into existing (business) websites.
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