Law StudentsHow to further your interest in the field of Arbitration

How to further your interest in the field of Arbitration

Arbitration as a field has been getting importance every year. Majority of the contracts these days, have an arbitration clause. If you are interested in arbitration, starting early is the key. I believe what is taught in college is not enough to get you that edge, as there are grey areas in law. To obtain that edge and to further your interest in this field of law, these are few tips:

Get an understanding of Commercial Contracts

It is necessary to take a course on Commercial Contracts so that you have an idea regarding how disputes arise and how you can better represent your client. It is important to have a good understanding of subjects like contract law, civil procedure and, conflicts of laws. Since these laws provide the main rules of  arbitration.

Joining a community for Young Arbitrators

There are various institutions such as the:

• Young MCIA (by the Mumbai Centre for International Arbitration,
• Young SIAC (by the Singapore International Arbitration Centre)
• Young LCIA (by the London Court of International Arbitration)
• Young ICC (by the International Chamber of Commerce)
• Young ICCA (by the International Council for Commercial Arbitration)
• Young MCI Arb (by the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators)

You can take part in the various conferences that are being held by these organizations, alongside you will be able to interact with people in the field of  arbitration which will help in building contacts and expanding your network.

Taking up additional courses

This can help in accelerating your learning in the field and can help in providing new perspectives. There are various online courses available on websites such as Coursera, Lawsikho which can help in providing insight into the fields. Personally, I have done various courses on arbitration on Coursera and they have not only furthered my interest in the field but also make my C.V look better.

Lawsikho’s course on  Executive Certificate Course in Arbitration: Strategy, Procedure and Drafting is a good course that will help you in the field.

Get accreditation

There are various organization such as ADR-ODR organization which help students to become accredited mediators and arbitrators. This helps law students as they get an early head start in the field.

Participate in arbitration-focussed moot court competitions

All law schools provide students the opportunity to participate in various    competition such at the national and the international level. These competitions  will  provide  students insights into the field. This will challenge your mind and will help in better articulation of arguments.

Choosing the right firm for an internship

When applying for internships, it is necessary to know about the firm’s reputation and the clients it has. It is very important to know if you will get drafting responsibilities and constructive feedback from the lawyers you work with. The aim  should be to better your arbitration skills because the experience matters when you apply for an associate position.