The Role of Cejusc in Promoting Access to Justice and Creating An Environment Conducive to Community Participation in the Search for Consensual Solutions

Objective: The objective of this study is to investigate the importance of Judicial Centers for Conflict Resolution and Citizenship (Cejuscs) in expanding access to justice and modernizing the Brazilian judicial system, focusing on mediation and negotiation as alternatives to the traditional adversarial model. Theoretical Framework: The research is based on theories of mediation and negotiation, including the Harvard method, and discusses the relevance of these techniques in the current legal context. Additionally, examples from New York's experience are used to enrich the analysis of Cejuscs' role. Method: The methodology includes a bibliographic analysis of data on Cejuscs and a specific case study in the Vitorino Freire/MA District, where the implementation of a differentiated model focused on consensus building was proposed. The study also covers the structure and operation of Cejuscs, as well as the selection and training of mediators and conciliators. Results and Discussion: The results indicate that Cejuscs are effective in promoting consensual alternatives for conflict resolution, and their role can be expanded to handle complex collective disputes. The experience in Vitorino Freire/MA highlights the importance of interinstitutional partnerships for the success of the model. Research Implications: This study suggests that the Cejuscs model can be adapted to meet new challenges, such as mediating collective disputes, offering a more efficient and cost-effective path to conflict resolution. Originality/Value: The research contributes by highlighting the need to modernize judicial practices in Brazil and proposes an innovative model for Cejuscs’ performance in highly complex contexts.