For lawyers

Entry to CIArb membership is not dependent on legal qualifications or practice, but rather the extent of knowledge and experience of private/alternative dispute resolution (PDR/ADR), which includes arbitration (domestic or international), mediation and adjudication.

For lawyers with no previous experience of private dispute resolution

  1. Study the CIArb Pathway programme (Modules 1 - 4) and attend a peer interview. This takes you through the grades: from Associate (ACIArb), to Member (MCIArb) and up to Fellow (FCIArb) grade, in your chosen discipline. Practising lawyers will be required to attend and pass an Introduction course as this covers a basic understanding of the main methods of private dispute resolution, and the practice and procedure of arbitration. However, lawyers are exempt from taking Module 1 (Law of Arbitration) and may progress to Module 2 after the Introduction/Entry level course.
  1. Attend the CIArb Diploma course in International Commercial Arbitration, pass an arbitration practice and procedure examination, an Award Writing examination and a Peer Interview in order to become a Fellow. You will be admitted as an Associate on completion of the course and upgraded to Member when you pass the arbitration practice and procedure examination.
  2. Complete a course at a CIArb Recognised Course Provider.

For lawyers with prior knowledge of arbitration

  1. The Accelerated Membership route (for those with some knowledge and limited experience of arbitration) which assesses knowledge, gained through experience, of the Pathway's programme Module 2 (Law of Arbitration). Participants are usually party advisors.
  2. The Accelerated Fellowship route (for those with substantial/extensive knowledge and experience of arbitration) which assesses knowledge, gained through experience, of the Pathway's programme Module 2 (Law of Arbitration) and Module 3 (Practice, Procedure, Drafting and Deciding) and pass an Award Writing (Module 4) examination. Participants are usually those who act as party representatives in arbitration, or judges who deal with arbitral issues.
  3. Attend the CIArb Diploma course in International Commercial Arbitration, and pass an arbitration practice and procedure examination, an Award Writing examination and a Peer Interview in order to become a Fellow. You will be admitted as an Associate on completion of the course and upgraded to Member when you pass the arbitration practice and procedure examination.
  4. Complete a course at a CIArb Recognised Course Provider.
  5. Application through the Experienced Practitioner Route (EPR), which provides those highly experienced and renowned arbitrators with the opportunity of direct entry into the Institute at Fellow level. It is special membership route only available to very exceptional individuals.

IMPORTANT NOTES:

(1) Irrespective of route, all those applying to become a Fellow must attend a Fellowship Peer interview

(2) For Fellows wishing to be considered for Chartered Arbitrator status, must apply and submit, acting as an arbitrator, a schedule of recent appointments, two orders for directions, three reasoned awards, log of CPD and a CV. Eligible Fellows will be invited for interview.

Your internationally recognised post-nominal letters set you apart from non-CIArb members, and are a sign of quality assurance and credibility.

Last Updated: 31 March 2010

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