Arbitration is the act of settling a dispute between two people or groups, after hearing the arguments and opinions of both sides.
A Chartered Arbitrator, therefore, is a person that is licensed in the act and profession of arbitration.
To know how to become a chartered arbitrator in Nigeria, you have to register in the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators for proper training.
The organization responsible for training, registering and monitoring Chartered Arbitrators in Nigeria is the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (Nigerian Branch), also known as CIArb.
CIArb was founded in the United Kingdom in 1915 and incorporated in 1924 before it was finally granted the Royal Charter in 1979.
There are currently 41 branches of this Institute in several countries around the one and the Nigerian branch became one of them in 1999, after fulfilling the requirements of becoming registered as a branch.
23 years later, the Nigerian branch currently has several 1,273 members and counting. These members cut across all disciplines, Law, construction shipping, Engineering etc.
A person of any profession can become a Chartered Arbitrator, you don’t have to be a lawyer or have any interest in the legal profession.
CIArb is a professional body for the training of those who seek to become qualified Arbitrators, mediators and ADR practitioners.
They are also responsible for maintaining a register of qualified arbitrators and monitoring the professional conduct of their members.
The membership can be obtained by taking the required courses offered by the institute or by experience, having the knowledge required to become a member.
The different cadres of membership are;
- ACIArb
- MCIArb
- FCIArb
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Requirements to Become an Arbitrator in Nigeria
According to the official website, the following are the requirements of becoming one of these members:
ACIArb
Associate Member Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. The following are the requirements for becoming an associate member:
- Successful completion of one of CIArb’s introductory courses OR
- Completion of an equivalent course from a recognised course provider OR
- Six months experience in dispute avoidance or dispute management. Reference required.
MCIArb
Member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. The following are the requirements for becoming a Member:
- Successful completion of one of CIArb’s Module 1 Training and Assessment on one of CIArb’s Pathways.
- Successful Completion of CIArb’s Accelerated Route to Membership (ARM) Programme.
- Successful completion of an equivalent course from a recognised course provider.
- Five years experience in arbitration, construction adjudication or mediation in a lead/sole capacity; including settlement agreements, the management of proceedings, and attending hearings that have resulted in the publication of a reasoned award or decision.
FCIArb
Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.
To become a member, you have to have or obtain one of the following:
- Successful completion of one of CIArb’s Module 3 Training and Assessment on one of CIArb’s Pathways and a Peer interview or
- Successful completion of CIArb’s Accelerated Route to Fellowship (ARF) Programme and a Peer Interview or
- Successful completion of an equivalent course from a recognized course provider and a Peer Interview or
- Successful completion of CIArb’s Diploma, Part 3 and a Peer Interview.
- 10-years’ experience in arbitration, construction adjudication, or mediation in a lead/sole capacity; including settlement agreements, the management of proceedings, and attending hearings that have resulted in the publication of a reasoned award or decision.
- Knowledge of the law of obligations and evidence at first-degree level or recognised equivalent, or an understanding of law relevant to your mediation practice or recognised equivalent.
- Experience of writing directions and final, reasoned awards or decisions/experience writing mediation agreements, heads of agreements, or memorandums of understanding.
Arbitration Courses in Nigeria
From the above, it is evident that the institute offers some courses for those willing to become members and in different branches of Arbitration, some of these include:
● Introduction to Domestic Arbitration. The price for the course is ₦80,000
● Introduction to International Arbitration. Price for the course – ₦80,000
● Accelerated Route to Membership – Domestic Arbitration. Price for the course – ₦175,000
● Accelerated Route to Membership – International Arbitration. Price for the course- ₦175,000
● Accelerated Route to Fellowship – Domestic Arbitration. Price for the course- ₦400,000
● Accelerated Route to Fellowship – International Arbitration. Price for courses- ₦400,000
Course Module
● Module 1: Law, Practice and Procedure in Domestic Arbitration. Price for the course- ₦200,000
● Module 1: Law, Practice and Procedure in International Arbitration. Price for the course – ₦200,000
● Module 2: Law of Obligations (Civil Law and Common Law of Contract and Tort. Price for the course- ₦300,000
● Module 3: Evidence, Decision Making and Award Writing of Domestic Arbitration. Price for the course – ₦400,000
Non-Membership Courses
However, CIArb also offers some non-membership courses on dispute resolution.
You can take these courses just to broaden your knowledge and skills in dealing with disputes. These include:
● Arbitration Advocacy for Lawyers. Price for the course – ₦30,000
● Arbitral Secretaries Training. Price for the course – ₦50,000
● MasterClass ODR Course in Domestic & International Arbitration. Price for the course – ₦25,000 for Members and ₦35,000 for non-members.
● Advanced MasterClass ODR Course in Domestic & International Arbitration. Price for the course- ₦75,000 for members and ₦85,000 for non-members.
● Advanced MasterClass ODR Course in Mediation. Price for the course – ₦75,000 for members and N85,000 for non-members.
How to Become a Chartered Arbitrator in Nigeria
Develop Skills
As an arbitrator, you will acquire valuable skills that can be applied in other professional, arbitration or mediation settings. As mentioned earlier, is it not limited to only the legal profession.
Give Back
If you’re looking for an opportunity to serve the public or give back to your community, serving as an arbitrator enables you to help others by applying your professional knowledge gathered from the courses and learning experiences. Arbitration can be applied in your daily life.
Build Your Network
Serving with other arbitrators on a panel allows you to meet and network with other professionals, including individuals who work inside and outside your industry or line of profession.
Let me know in the comment box below if you have any questions or need further clarification. I will love to help you.
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What steps do I take to become a charter arbitrator in Nigeria.
To become a Chartered Arbitrator in Nigeria, you can follow these steps:
1. Meet the eligibility requirements. The eligibility requirements for becoming a Chartered Arbitrator in Nigeria are:
– Be a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb).
– Have a minimum of five years of experience in arbitration, construction adjudication, or mediation in a lead/sole capacity.
– Have been a party representative in at least five (5) arbitrations.
– Have a good understanding of the law and practice of arbitration.
– Be of good character and have a sound reputation.
2. Complete the CIArb Fellowship Examination. The CIArb Fellowship Examination is a two-part examination that tests your knowledge and skills in arbitration. The first part of the examination is a multiple-choice test, and the second part is an essay test.
3. Apply for the Chartered Arbitrator Designation. Once you have passed the CIArb Fellowship Examination, you can apply for the Chartered Arbitrator Designation. The application process includes submitting an application form, providing references, and paying a fee.
4. Be interviewed by a panel of arbitrators. The final step in becoming a Chartered Arbitrator is to be interviewed by a panel of arbitrators. The interview is designed to assess your knowledge, skills, and experience in arbitration.
If you are successful in the interview, you will be awarded the Chartered Arbitrator Designation. This designation is recognized worldwide as a mark of excellence in arbitration.
Here are some additional resources that you may find helpful:
1. CIArb Nigeria: https://ciarbnigeria.org/
2. The Nigerian Institute of Chartered Arbitrators: https://www.nicarb.org/
3. How to Become a Chartered Arbitrator: https://www.ciarb.org/membership/routes-to-membership/
I hope this helps!
I will like to take the training to qualify as a charted member of the institute of arbitrators. I will like to do this online.
I need a link to take this course online and the qualifying exam.
Hello Mr Onokpise,
Check the links below;
https://ciarbnigeria.org/training/
https://www.nicarb.org/
I wish to earn the prestigious fellow grade of CIArb.