Rise of the Ombudsmen

Ombudsman schemes have become a ‘significant and permanent feature of legal systems across the world in recent decades’, according to a report launched this week at the International Bar Association (IBA) conference in Rome. Most schemes use the inquisitorial method of dispute settlement but mediation and arbitration models are also used. The report, ‘Ombudsman schemes and effective access to justice: A study of international practices and trends’, was drafted by the Bingham Centre for the Rule of Law. It identifies existing and emerging worldwide practices and trends in the development and use of ombudsman schemes.