YEREVAN, Armenia — On February 16-26, the American University of Armenia (AUA) Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Clinic hosted the Arbitration Writing Lab, an intensive academic initiative developed within the ADR Clinic. The project was designed to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge of arbitration and the practical craft of legal writing in arbitral proceedings.
At its core, the Lab treated writing as a form of legal strategy. Arbitration is not won through abstract knowledge of doctrine alone; it is shaped through structured argument, procedural awareness, evidentiary precision, and disciplined drafting. The Lab therefore moved participants beyond classroom discussion into hands-on simulation of real arbitral practice.
Over the course of multiple structured sessions, participants engaged directly with core procedural documents used in international and domestic arbitration. These included drafting a Request for Arbitration, preparing a Response or Answer, structuring claims and defenses, developing admissibility and jurisdictional arguments, drafting submissions on interim measures, and constructing Redfern Schedules for document production. Each session focused on a specific procedural moment in the life cycle of an arbitral dispute, allowing participants to understand how strategy evolves across stages of proceedings.
The methodology was deliberately practice-oriented. Participants worked with realistic dispute scenarios modeled on commercial and investment arbitration cases. They drafted in real time, received detailed feedback, revised their submissions, and observed how small structural choices in writing can affect persuasion, clarity, and procedural positioning. The emphasis was on clarity, coherence, tone, and strategic framing rather than formulaic reproduction of templates.
The Lab was conducted in English, reflecting the language of most international arbitral institutions and publications. It also prepared participants for engagement with global legal platforms and professional opportunities.
Beyond technical drafting skills, the project aimed to cultivate professional judgment. Participants learned how to assess risk, prioritize arguments, structure procedural requests, and anticipate counterarguments. The Lab also exposed them to stylistic discipline required in international practice, including structured reasoning, proportional use of authority, and effective integration of facts and law.
The event served early-career lawyers, advanced students, and young professionals who are preparing for careers in arbitration, dispute resolution, international law, or related fields. It strengthened the practical component of AUA’s legal education ecosystem and complemented academic coursework with applied training.
As part of the ADR Clinic’s broader mission, the Lab also contributed to building arbitration culture in Armenia by fostering a new generation of practitioners who are not only knowledgeable but precise, strategic, and globally competitive in written advocacy.
Founded in 1991, the American University of Armenia (AUA) is a private, independent university located in Yerevan, Armenia, affiliated with the University of California, and accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission in the United States. AUA provides local and international students with Western-style education through top-quality undergraduate and graduate degree and certificate programs, promotes research and innovation, encourages civic engagement and community service, and fosters democratic values.
