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Alternative Dispute Resolution
Just a very small percent of cases go to trial every year and an attorney that handles more than one jury trial in a twelve month period is said to, "spend a lot of time in court." Alternative dispute resolution is now the standard, rather than the exception, and we have every reason to believe that trend will continue.
However, just because you are not presenting your case to a jury does not mean you should not prepare to the best of your ability. Judges, mediators, and arbitrators are very similar to jurors in that they will be persuaded by some arguments but not by others. Until an argument has been tested it is difficult to predict how it will be received.
Research in preparation for ADR is different logistically but the ultimate goal remains the same: to present the most persuasive argument possible in order to best serve your client.
However, just because you are not presenting your case to a jury does not mean you should not prepare to the best of your ability. Judges, mediators, and arbitrators are very similar to jurors in that they will be persuaded by some arguments but not by others. Until an argument has been tested it is difficult to predict how it will be received.