Civil Litigation is the legal process of resolving a civil dispute in court between two or more parties who seek compensation (money) for damages incurred or for specific performance. Dispute Resolution, also referred to as “alternative dispute resolution” or “ADR” for short, is the process of resolving a conflict, dispute or claim outside of court through the use of arbitration and/or mediation. Both ADR and Civil Litigation often intersect during the course of a dispute. If ADR efforts are unsuccessful, the next step is usually Civil Litigation.