People who work in a legal or negotiations-based career often find that arbitration training is necessary for career progression. Arbitration training is available from a limited number of post-secondary institutions, usually as a graduate certificate or program. Professional organizations are a much better resource for this type of training because of the highly focused population.
The purpose of arbitrator training is to improve negotiation and mediation outcomes through the application of specific techniques. The role of an arbitrator is to resolve conflicts that have reached an impasse. In many cases, the issues are related to employment contracts or contract law. The arbitration process is used to avoid lengthly legal cases, and both sides must agree to follow the arbitrator's ruling.
University law schools typically offer post-graduate certificates in arbitration. In many cases, the certificate is focused on a particular type of law, because of the level of complexity. This type of training is offered evenings and weekends, in order to accommodate people who are working full time in the legal or professional negotiations industries.
Look into the continuing education programs offered through your professional association. This is a great source for arbitration training, because the program will be focused on the specific skills that are required, without repeating material that is common knowledge. An additional benefit of this type of arbitration training is the chance to network with other professionals.
Join an arbitrator network or association as a student member. This will give you access to newsletters and publications that often include training opportunities. Read the course description with care to ensure that you have the background necessary to complete the course successfully. Talk with the career and training advisors in the network to learn what types of programs are the most common.
There are a range of books, journals, seminars and online resources that provide arbitration training. Take the time to research these options and determine how much of your training can be completed independently. These materials can provide a great introduction to this field, but discussion with practicing professionals is often required to understand the context of these theories and concepts.
The Internet is another great source of materials and training. However, always validate the source of the information. For example, an arbitration training program sponsored by a recognized law school has been reviewed for content quality by that school. A course that has no formal associations with a professional association or school should be thoroughly researched before you pay any tuition fees.
