Arbitration & Mediation

Palm Beach Bar Association CLE: Tips Once You are in Arbitration

By Christopher B. Hopkins, Esq.

We recently attended a continuing legal/mediator education (CLE/CME) course hosted by the Palm Beach Bar Association entitled, "Mediation and Arbitration in 2009: Finding the Hidden Gems." This course provided insights from some of the most reputable and experienced arbitrators and mediators in Palm Beach and Broward counties -- and it was a packed house. If you wanted to learn how your mediators approach cases or if you have an arbitration approaching, this was your day. Following the hyperlink above to see if the audio portion may be available.

We provided a brief segment on tips for lawyers (and arbitrators) regarding tips for arbitration itself. So often even on this website we are focused on how to compel or avoid arbitration. We forget that many experienced lawyers do not know how to turn their jury trial skills into good arbitration skills or may simply be looking for a few tips in general. Arbitration requires some deftness not only in the presentation but knowing what to overlook in discovery and, more importantly, how to compact your case into a shortened time period without missing key elements to your case.

As an excerpt from the Hidden Gems seminar, the outline of our Motion to Compel Arbitration Granted: Now What? can be found here. Did I miss some? Go ahead and email me your thoughts.

Full post as published by Florida Arbitration Law on February 22, 2009 (boomark / email).