Justice is adversarial. From the presentation of arguments in a case, to the physical layout of the courtroom, the justice system is inescapably built on the presentation of opposing views by opposing sides.

However, this does not mean that there is no room for cooperation, or a culture that values reciprocal behavior, within the justice system. Indeed, in many cases, the system works better when the parties involved work together, and it is in everyone’s interests—the judge, the opposing counsels, the plaintiffs, and the litigants—to cooperate, if it helps to ensure fairer, more efficient, and swifter justice.