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IFLA Financial Arbitration (October 2026)

The Family Law Financial Arbitration Scheme (‘the Financial Scheme’) - under which disputes of a financial or property nature with a family background in England and Wales may be resolved by arbitration.

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From £2,760.00
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Hybrid

The Family Law Financial Arbitration Scheme (‘the Financial Scheme’) - under which disputes of a financial or property nature with a family background in England and Wales may be resolved by arbitration.

In order to become an arbitrator under this Scheme, it is necessary that Scheme members qualify and maintain membership of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and concurrently are maintained as members of the relevant panel of arbitrators which shall be managed by Resolution on behalf of the Institute of Family Law Arbitrators Limited (“IFLA”).

The Scheme is administered by Resolution on behalf of IFLA, a company limited by guarantee whose members are the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (“Ciarb”), Resolution and the Family Law Bar Association (“FLBA”).

Dates

Details

 

Dates and details to be confirmed.

 

Training and qualification as a family law arbitrator is available only to those who satisfy the conditions established by IFLA. Eligibility is considered without discrimination.

1.1. An applicant for the children scheme must be either:

  • a practising barrister;
  • a practising solicitor;
  • a part time fee paid judge; or
  • a practising Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives who has at least 10 years post qualification experience in England and Wales in the discipline in which he or she wishes to qualify. He or she must have spent a minimum of 600 hours per annum carrying out family law casework during each of the 10 years immediately preceding his or her application 400 hours of which must be in the discipline in which he or she wishes to qualify. If an applicant has completed 800 hours per annum family work comprising 400 hours financial work and 400 hours children work, then he or she will be eligible to train as both a financial arbitrator and a children arbitrator.

1.2. A retired practitioner who would have met the eligibility requirements at the time of their retirement, provided he or she applies to train within 12months from the date of retirement.

1.3. A retired Judge of the Court of Appeal or Supreme Court Justice who before or during his or her appointment as such sat as a High Court Judge in the Family Division, provided he or she applies to train within 12 months from the date of retirement.

1.4. A retired judge who was authorised to sit in the Family Court at the date of his or her retirement and who sat in the Family Court for at least 100 days in each of the two years preceding retirement of which at least 40% were in the discipline in which he or she seeks to qualify, provided he or she applies to train within 12 months from the date of retirement.

Applicants other than retired judges must provide the name of two referees who are either:

  • judges;
  • tribunal chairpersons
  • Queens Counsel; or
  • IFLA arbitrators qualified in the discipline the applicant wishes to qualify in .i.e. finance or children

In order to be considered for the course, please complete the application form and send it and your full CV to IFLA_Children@ciarb.org

Should you be successful in your application, you will be contacted regarding registration and payment.

Please note that CV’s are processed in batches and as such, the review process can take upwards of 4 weeks. You will be contacted should you be successful in your application.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a full course information sheet?

To view the full course information sheet, please click here.

What is the Family Law Financial Arbitration Scheme?

The Family Law Financial Arbitration Scheme (‘the Financial Scheme’) under which disputes of a financial or property nature with a family background in England and Wales may be resolved by arbitration.

In order to become an arbitrator under this Scheme, it is necessary that Scheme members qualify and maintain membership of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and concurrently are maintained as members of the relevant panel of arbitrators which shall be managed by Resolution on behalf of the Institute of Family Law Arbitrators Limited (“IFLA”).


The Scheme is administered by Resolution on behalf of IFLA, a company limited by guarantee whose members are the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (“Ciarb”), Resolution and the Family Law Bar Association (“FLBA”).


IFLA is responsible for:


• the rules governing the family law arbitration schemes
• eligibility, training, and qualification criteria
• application procedures
• criteria for remaining on the panels
• denying, suspending, or revoking membership of the panels
• development of the schemes
• public perceptions and requirements of the Schemes
• pursuing legislative reform as and when appropriate

What are the benefits of family law arbitration?

Some of the primary advantages of family arbitration are:

 

  • Choice: parties can select the decision maker.
  • Efficiency: choosing arbitration can save court resources.
  • Flexibility: arbitration may be used for discrete issues within a case.
  • Continuity: with direct, continuous involvement of the decision maker.
  • Privacy: arbitration is a confidential process.
  • Speed: arbitration can be faster than court-based processes.

 

How will I be assessed?

The assessment will be provided electronically on Ciarb's online learning platform, LearnADR. 

 

You will be given a case study that has been conducted under the current IFLA Scheme Rules. You will be required to deal with the papers as if you were the arbitrator in the case. This will involve considering them, deciding any issues which may appear and producing a reasoned determination in respect of those issues.

What is LearnADR?

LearnADR is Ciarb's online learning platform.

 

Once you have purchased the course, you can access it by going to your dashboard and click on 'My Courses'. There you will find a red button that says, 'LearnADR'.

 

How long will I have access to LearnADR?

You will have access to LearnADR for 12 months from the date of the last course session.

What are the Referee requirements?

3. Only one referee may be from the same firm or chambers as the applicant. Referees will be asked to certify that the applicant meets the following competencies:

 

 

3.1. Intellectual capacity

 

• High level of expertise in their chosen area or profession.
 

• Ability quickly to absorb and analyse information.
 

• Appropriate knowledge of the law and its underlying principles, or the ability to acquire this knowledge where necessary.
 

 

3.2. Personal qualities

  • Integrity and independence of mind.
  • Sound judgment.
  • Decisiveness.
  • Objectivity.
  • Ability and willingness to learn and develop professionally.
 

 

3.3. An ability to understand and deal fairly

  • Ability to treat everyone with respect and sensitivity whatever their background.
  • Willingness to listen with patience and courtesy.
 

 

3.4. Authority and communication skills

  • Ability to explain the procedure and any decisions reached clearly and succinctly to all those involved.
  • Ability to inspire respect and confidence.
  • Ability to maintain authority when challenged.
 

 

3.5. Efficiency

  • Ability to work at speed and under pressure.
  • Ability to organise time effectively and produce clear reasoned judgments/awards expeditiously.
  • Ability to work constructively with others (including leadership and managerial skills where appropriate).

 

What is my next step when I complete the course?

On successful completion of the course and the corresponding assessment, candidates will:

 

 

Please note that candidates are only eligible to apply for Membership for a maximum of two years after having successfully completed the course and assessment.

Fee Terms and Conditions

Click here to view our Fee Terms and Conditions.