UCD Diploma in Arbitration

legal eagle 1

Hey guys, was just wondering if anyone has done the postgraduate Diploma in Arbitration course in UCD? How did you find it? is it useful? Any feedback on the course would be greatly appreciated!

_JOE_

Yes, and i thoroughly enjoyed it. It's a great course, well organised, and Brian Hutchinson is an excellent lecturer. The vast majority of the class is made up of professionals; solicitors, barristers, engineers, surveyors, architects and a few from an bord pleanala...
If you've any further questions, don't hesitate to ask...

legal eagle 1

Thanks for your reply. Did you find the course hard? Was there many students in the class or was it all professionals? also how many people was in the class if you dont mind me asking.

_JOE_

It's about the same as a final year subject. It's more about the independent study you do. You'll find it interesting because it's a whole new area. The Arbitration Bill's about to pass, so it'll be a great source of discussion. He also has guest speakers in each week, who are either senior counsel, arbitrators or have experience in different area relevant to arbitration.
There was about 80 in the class, and out that there was about 15 students. A few of the solicitors were only qualified, but the vast majority of the class were 30+...

legal eagle 1

Do you mind me asking you why you choose to do the course? Do you think the course has helped you in your choosen career since for eg. in obtaining a job etc.

_JOE_

I didn't decide to do the course because of job prospects, as that wasn't an issue for me. Rather, it was because of the large amount of cases taken to arbitration in our office recently. There's not a large amount of qualified arbitrators in ireland (around 700) so i suppose i decided to do it because it's a niche area. It's much cheaper, and in the current climate many will be tempted to use Arbitration. ADR is very popular in ireland and once the Arbitration Bill 2008 passes, we will see many more clients deciding to incorporate arbitration clauses into their contracts.

Pope John 11

Interested in doing this course. Fully qualified structural engineer with 10.5 years experience to date.

Has anyone any further advice regarding this course in relation to engineering & construction field.

All advice fully appreciated

dats_right

_JOE_ wrote: »

It's [aribtration] much cheaper

Very often this is not the case, in fact, some people may be surprised to learn that arbitration will frequently cost as much, if not more, than traditional litigation. It does however, offer certain other benefits, notably; speed and confidentiality.

Your Holiness, it is a competitive field to break into and certainly I would suggest that you look at TCD's post grad dip in Construction Law and Contract Administration. This course will enable you develop the requisite legal knowledge to complement your practical engineering knowledge, which would be essential before embarking on training to become an arbitrator.

Pope John 11

Many thanks for that info.

Note I was thinking of doing one of the following two courses, now that you mention this other course.

1. Diploma in Project Management, TCD
2. Arbitration Law, UCD
3. Construction & Contract law TCD

However with the fees been €5000+, then its not a case of doing all three.

Any further recommendations would be greatful.

_JOE_

dats_right wrote: »

Very often this is not the case, in fact, some people may be surprised to learn that arbitration will frequently cost as much, if not more, than traditional litigation. It does however, offer certain other benefits, notably; speed and confidentiality.

Your Holiness, it is a competitive field to break into and certainly I would suggest that you look at TCD's post grad dip in Construction Law and Contract Administration. This course will enable you develop the requisite legal knowledge to complement your practical engineering knowledge, which would be essential before embarking on training to become an arbitrator.

I would agree with dats_right, and qualify the post i made 8 months ago having been involved in quite a few arbitrations since!

My initial position on the other hand is the same...It is a course worth doing!

Pope John 11

_JOE_ wrote: »

I would agree with dats_right, and qualify the post i made 8 months ago having been involved in quite a few arbitrations since!

My initial position on the other hand is the same...It is a course worth doing!

I assume Joe, you mean to do the Arbitration Law course UCD instead of the Construction & Contract Law TCD

dats_right

Pope John 11 wrote: »

I assume Joe, you mean to do the Arbitration Law course UCD instead of the Construction & Contract Law TCD

I would imagine that Joe meant that the course was worth doing generally. In any event, and with the greatest respect Pope, you are going to find it extremely difficult to find work as an arbitrator with just a diploma in arbitration and professional experience behind you. Remembering that arbiration is a a process whereby the arbitrator makes a binding ruling on matters based on legal principles and rules, typically rules governing contract, torts law and the laws of evidence. This course in arbitration will only provide you with the very bare basics of these essential rules; and remembering that many of the people you will be competing with will be dual qualified, that is to say that in addition to their engineering or technical background they have now qualified as barristers and will then be doing the Dip in Arbitration.

I do however agree with Joe that the course is an excellent course, but there really are no short-cuts as there is already very many eminently qualified arbitrators already in practice. It is for these reasons that I respectfully suggest to you that for your particular purpose a more in-depth legal knowledge of the specific area is desireable, nay on essential, if you are realistic about a career as an arbitrator and hence why I have suggested the alternative route of the TCD post-grad dip in Construction & Contract law.

I have sent you a PM about an alternative way of becoming an accredited arbitrator.

Pope John 11

dats_right wrote: »

I would imagine that Joe meant that the course was worth doing generally. In any event, and with the greatest respect Pope, you are going to find it extremely difficult to find work as an arbitrator with just a diploma in arbitration and professional experience behind you. Remembering that arbiration is a a process whereby the arbitrator makes a binding ruling on matters based on legal principles and rules, typically rules governing contract, torts law and the laws of evidence. This course in arbitration will only provide you with the very bare basics of these essential rules; and remembering that many of the people you will be competing with will be dual qualified, that is to say that in addition to their engineering or technical background they have now qualified as barristers and will then be doing the Dip in Arbitration.

I do however agree with Joe that the course is an excellent course, but there really are no short-cuts as there is already very many eminently qualified arbitrators already in practice. It is for these reasons that I respectfully suggest to you that for your particular purpose a more in-depth legal knowledge of the specific area is desireable, nay on essential, if you are realistic about a career as an arbitrator and hence why I have suggested the alternative route of the TCD post-grad dip in Construction & Contract law.

I have sent you a PM about an alternative way of becoming an accredited arbitrator.

Thanks for that, dats right, I have just sent you a pm. I think I will have to do a bit more research on both. Thanks again