Some disputes cannot be resolved privately. Litigation is the process of resolving legal disputes through the court system, from filing a claim through judgment and any appeals.

It includes pleadings, motions, discovery, trial, and post-trial proceedings. Litigation is public, rule-bound, and often expensive. Parties use it when negotiation fails, when they need binding precedent, or when they require coercive remedies only courts can provide.

Most filed cases settle before trial, but the possibility of trial shapes bargaining. Effective litigation requires factual investigation, legal research, and strategic judgment about which issues to press. Alternative dispute resolution sometimes runs in parallel to reduce cost and delay.

• Court-based process for resolving disputes
• Includes pleadings, discovery, trial, and appeal
• Public and governed by procedural rules
• Often ends in settlement before final judgment