AuguryUH Law’s New Five-Day Arbitration Certificate Aims to Fast‑Track Practical Skills This January
This article was written by the Augury Times
Five days in January to sharpen your arbitration toolkit
The University of Houston Law Center (UH Law) is launching a five-day International Arbitration Certificate this January designed for lawyers who want work-ready skills, not just theory. The course packs intensive classroom time, practical exercises and simulated hearings into a single week so participants can leave with tools they can use the next time they face an arbitration.
The immediate hook is practical speed: the program is short, focused and taught by people who run or sit on arbitrations. Instead of spreading material across months, UH Law condenses it into a concentrated experience that aims to give busy practitioners a quick, meaningful upgrade to their arbitration practice.
What the week covers and the skills you’ll actually gain
The curriculum is built around the arbitration lifecycle. Each day tackles a distinct phase or skill so learning feels orderly and cumulative. Expect sessions on drafting enforceable arbitration agreements, choosing the right forum and rules, and selecting or challenging arbitrators. The middle of the week moves into evidence, witness preparation and procedural strategy—how to press a case early and how to respond when the opponent presses back.
A big part of the program is hands-on work. Participants take part in mock hearings, oral advocacy drills and small-group drafting labs. These exercises are not mere demonstrations: attendees practice cross-examination, direct examination, objections and the art of framing relief in a way that arbitrators can enforce. The program also covers award-writing and enforcement—how an award is formed, common drafting pitfalls and the practical ways to make an award harder to attack later.
Beyond case mechanics, the week includes strategy sessions on emergency measures, interim relief and the tricky interplay between national courts and arbitral tribunals. There’s time set aside for practical tips on working with experts, managing disclosure in different legal regimes, and handling multi-party or multi-contract disputes. By the end of the week, participants should be able to walk into an arbitration with a clear plan for hearings, document strategy and enforcement steps afterward.
Who should sign up — and how this moves a legal career forward
The program is aimed at busy practitioners: litigation lawyers moving into arbitration, in-house counsel who manage dispute portfolios, and advanced law students who want an edge entering practice. It suits lawyers who already know the basics of arbitration law and want to add hands-on advocacy and case-management skills in a compact format.
Professionally, the certificate is practical rather than credential-heavy. It does not replace years of experience, but it helps lawyers present themselves as arbitration-capable more quickly. For in-house lawyers, the course offers clearer, faster ways to evaluate outside counsel and shape dispute strategy. For junior litigators, the training delivers courtroom-style experience that can speed promotion into arbitration teams or client-facing roles.
Experienced instructors and industry connections that matter
UH Law is assembling a mix of faculty drawn from practicing arbitrators, leading law firm partners and the law school’s own arbitration scholars. That blend means sessions balance doctrinal clarity with real-world pressure points—what arbitrators actually want to see, and how big-firm teams structure cases.
Guest speakers include sitting arbitrators and senior in-house counsel who regularly lead disputes. Those guests bring current practice habits and give participants a look at the decision-making behind appointment, management and award-writing. The program also highlights institutional perspectives, with panels that explain how major arbitration rules and centers handle common procedural issues.
When and where it runs, what it costs and what credit you can earn
The program runs in January and is scheduled to be held on the UH Law campus, with live online access for remote attendees. The week-long format is compact and designed for people who can step away from day-to-day work for a single, intensive block.
Tuition and scholarship details vary by participant type; UH Law has options for private practitioners, government or public-sector attorneys, and students. The certificate typically qualifies for continuing legal education (CLE) credit in many U.S. jurisdictions, and UH Law provides documentation participants can use to claim credit where eligible.
How to reserve a seat and what to expect next
Registration is open now and seats are limited to preserve the hands-on nature of the sessions. Interested lawyers and students should contact UH Law’s professional programs office for registration details, fee schedules and accommodation questions. Participants should plan to arrive ready to work: the program expects active participation in mock hearings and drafting labs.
For lawyers who want a fast, practical update to arbitration skills, UH Law’s certificate is designed to be an efficient, practice-focused week that turns classroom time into usable courtroom and tribunal habits.
Photo: Tara Winstead / Pexels
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