The Arbitration Arena:
Advocacy Beyond the Courtroom
by ALSA BAC

The Arbitration Arena: Advocacy Beyond the Courtroom visit was organised by ALSA BAC on the 9^th of June at LAW Partnership, a leading firm in the corporate legal sector. This visit aimed to expose club members to the evolving world of dispute resolution beyond traditional litigation. While courtroom observation remained part of the itinerary, the focus was centered on arbitration, particularly within the domain of corporate and commercial law.

This initiative aimed to provide students with practical exposure to the arbitration process, and offer insights into the roles, responsibilities, and career pathways of legal professionals in this specialised field. The visit complemented academic learning with interactive and immersive real-world observation.

A Panel Discussion on understanding Arbitration and M&A with 4 experienced professionals from LAW Partnership covered:

• The Fundamentals of Arbitration: Key differences between litigation and arbitration, processes involved, and the growing relevance of alternative dispute resolution (ADR).
• Daily Life of an Arbitration Lawyer: Insight into the work scope, challenges, and required skills for lawyers in this field.
• Exposure to Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A): How arbitration intersects with corporate transactions, and the role legal counsel plays in resolving commercial disputes.
• Interactive Engagement: Students engaged in a Q&A session with panelists, gaining personalised advice and clarity on career pathways in corporate law.

Courtroom Observation and Interaction - Participants also observed on-going court proceedings to understand formal courtroom decorum, procedural conduct, and the interplay between different legal actors. A brief Q&A was held with a judge or court staff (where permitted), further deepening participants' understanding of the justice system.

Guided Courthouse Tour - The group was then given a guided tour of the various departments within the courthouse, with explanations about the functions of each division. This allowed students to better visualise the structure and workflow of the legal system. The students gained foundational knowledge of arbitration and how it functions as an alternative to courtroom litigation, understood the career scope within arbitration and M&A legal practice, observed real-time courtroom procedures and professional conduct. They also learned the organisational structure of legal institutions and how different departments operate.

The Arbitration Arena: Advocacy Beyond the Courtroom provided an enriching, multidimensional experience for all attendees. The event successfully bridged the gap between theory and practice and served as a motivating platform for students exploring the breadth of legal careers available beyond the traditional courtroom. 

Stay tuned and join ALSA BAC for more enriching legal field trips and speaker sessions like this.