Since its inception the Association has promoted the greater use of arbitration as a means of resolving disputes. It is able to appoint competent and experienced arbitrators, as well as other specialists in alternative dispute resolution (ADR). To support these core activities, the Association has a proud history of providing excellent training and tutelage by a team of dedicated specialists. In this edition, we reflect on this proud tradition with reference to an extract taken from the foreword of the ‘2007 Directory and Profiles of Fellow Members’ that was provided to us by Honorary Life Member, Mr Barry Jammy.
Extract from the introduction to the ‘2007 Directory and Profiles of Fellow Members’ written by the late Eyvind Finsen, a founder of the Association.[1]
‘The Association has always seen the training of arbitrators as its single most important function and inaugurated its training programme in 1980 with a short course extending over four evenings. This was followed soon after with a course presented in collaboration with RAU,[2] that consisted of Saturday morning lectures spread over eight months.
These ventures, however, only catered for potential arbitrators living in or close to Johannesburg and in 1985 the Association spread its wings and inaugurated its first correspondence course. The course attracted 180 candidates, many of whom did not last the course but 60 … passed the final examination and received a Diploma in Arbitration. This Diploma Course (later reconstituted as the Certificate Course) has continued to be presented every year, albeit to smaller numbers, catering for candidates living in all parts of Southern Africa as well as other parts of the world, including London, New York and Taiwan.
In 1992 the Association initiated an advanced course for those who had completed the Certificate Course, this became the Fellowship Admission Course – successful candidates for which qualified for admission as Fellows of the Association and were regarded as competent to act as arbitrators.
Arbitrators are trained not only in the law and practice of arbitration but, because many candidates come from a technical background, also in the elements of the law of contract, delict and evidence. For those who work in the construction industry and who wish to specialise in arbitration in that field, the Association also offers a Specialisation Course in Construction Law.
The Association is pleased to note that the popularity of the courses is undiminished, and it would appear that there will be a strong demand for these courses as long as the Association is able to offer them. The courses are presented by a small but enthusiastic team of specialists in their respective fields whose constant aim is to continue to improve on the standard of training to ensure that, in promoting the greater use of arbitration, the Association is able to back its promotion with arbitrators capable of fulfilling the expectations that it creates.’
The Association offers a wide range of correspondence courses to new and existing members. By registering with the Association, you’ll become an associate member and join a like-minded group of professionals and proponents of alternative dispute resolution.
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[1] Provided by Barry Jammy, B.A., LL.B., FAArb, an Honorary Life Member of the Association.
[2] The erstwhile Rand Afrikaans University, now called the University of Johannesburg.