Enhancing Legal Processes: The American Arbitration Association’s® Journey in API Development

By: Kendal Enz

In 2020, responding to a mass arbitration case involving a major corporation, the American Arbitration Association (AAA^®) embarked on a journey to develop its first application programming interface (API).

At the time, the representative law firm inquired about constructing an API to manage its case’s large volume of document submissions. “When they approached us with the concept of an API, we recognized its potential to streamline our processes and we were eager to take on the challenge,” said Christine Newhall, AAA’s senior vice president of dispute resolution services.

An API serves as a software intermediary that enables two applications to communicate. In this scenario, it allowed the representative law firm to automatically upload documents from its case management system to AAA WebFile^®, AAA’s case management system.

The American Arbitration Association’s mass arbitration management team collaborated with the information systems (IS) team and the representative law firm to construct the document-sharing API in less than a month. “Thanks to our collaborative effort and the expertise we’ve gained, we can now create an API in just one to two weeks,” Newhall said. “The bulk of the setup work is efficiently managed by our clients’ technical teams, ensuring a swift and smooth integration.”

Ultimately, the representative law firm and the plaintiffs utilized the document API to handle case details more effectively. To ensure neutrality, if an API is used in an arbitration, all parties are offered its use. 

This experience proved valuable in building the following document-sharing API for another large volume, high-profile caseload. This API, created in the fall of 2023, is currently used for all arbitration cases, broadening its application beyond mass arbitration scenarios.

Following the success of the document-sharing API, the AAA initiated another significant step in API development in 2022 with another organization.

Recognizing the need for a more efficient process, AAA suggested the development of an API for the organization. “It was manually managing and filing a high volume of cases, around 500 or more at a time, which was time-consuming for both parties. We saw an opportunity to improve this process and proposed the API to them,” Newhall said. This proactive approach led to the development of an API that automated the case filing process for the company, significantly reducing manual data entry and enhancing efficiency.

During this development phase, AAA faced several challenges. “The organization was going through a potential merger, impacting their engagement with us and delaying the process,” Newhall said. Technical challenges in data integration also arose, requiring about a month to resolve. These obstacles highlighted the importance of customer engagement and communication in complex API development.

The introduction of the API simplified the filing process for the company and AAA’s intake department, which no longer had to input data for each case filing manually. Instead, it now verifies and accepts each filing, reducing human error. This significant improvement in the workflow coincided with the challenges of shifting to remote work during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“There were growing pains during the API integration,” Newhall said. “We had considerable back-and-forth with the company to fine-tune the API’s performance.” Despite these initial challenges, the API ultimately proved successful, enhancing the efficiency and accuracy of the case filing process. This collaboration also provided AAA with valuable insights into the capabilities of APIs in arbitration management. “The partnership was a learning experience for us. Their advanced technology and openness to our suggestion fostered a mutually beneficial relationship, enabling both parties to evolve and grow,” Newhall said.

The American Arbitration Association stands at the forefront of legal technology with its continued development and application of APIs. “We’ve come a long way since our first API,” Newhall said. “Today, we actively explore new avenues and applications for our APIs. Our focus is on developing solutions that are efficient, scalable and adaptable to the diverse needs of our clients. Importantly, while our journey began with mass arbitration cases, our APIs are now available to facilitate a broad spectrum of cases, making the arbitration process more efficient and accessible to everyone.”

The company’s APIs have evolved from document-sharing to case filing, becoming integral tools in managing the complexities of arbitration. “APIs are not just about technology; they’re about making the arbitration process more accessible and efficient for everyone involved,” Newhall said. 

The American Arbitration Association continues to enhance the arbitration experience and refine the dispute resolution process through technological innovation. In 2024, the association plans to introduce two additional APIs: one for panelist appointment data, which will provide details on their names and appointment statuses, and another for case status data, encompassing status, status group and status reason.

As AAA continues to expand its API capabilities, it reinforces its position as a leader in the field of dispute resolution, embracing technology to enhance legal processes and support its mission of providing fair, efficient and effective justice.

Learn more about the AAA’s APIs for mass arbitration here.