An arbitrator or mediator also should be someone with sufficient experience to command the respect of the parties and their lawyers. If, after selecting a person to hear the dispute, a party to the dispute genuinely feels that the mediator or arbitrator has shown bias, has a conflict of interest, or lacks the skills or experience necessary to mediate the case, he or she should voice the concern. There is a wide range of ADR providers with varying levels of specialization, expertise, ability, and quality. The kind of ADR provider appropriate to a particular dispute depends on the kind of dispute, the parties, how much money is involved, the level of expertise necessary to handle a matter, and how far the parties are into the dispute. Some ADR providers offer dispute resolution services for specific kinds of disputes, such as large, multi-party disputes.
Some providers have special areas of expertise, such as environmental dispute resolution.
Texas law provides that the training be approved by the court and that it include education in conflict or dispute resolution techniques. Under certain circumstances, a judge may appoint a third-party mediator or arbitrator who does not have specialized conflict resolution training, but who has similar experience or education. The costs of ADR vary depending on the type of dispute, the type of ADR process chosen, and the experience and expertise of the ADR provider. Because Texas dispute resolution programs use a portion of the court fees collected by Texas courts, usually there is no charge for these ADR services. Costs are paid by the court system.