Labor Arbitrator Development Program - Course Modules
The program is divided into four modules. For students with extensive backgrounds in the foundational areas of the program (Module 2), some or all of these courses may be waived at the discretion of the Scheinman Institute. Once accepted, students are each assigned a mentor from the Scheinman Institute faculty who works with them to design an individualized program of study.
Courses are generally offered once or twice per year. Links are provided to currently scheduled courses. Many of the foundation courses are offered through ILR's Management Programs. The courses are generally taught at the ILR School's newly renovated conference center in Manhattan, a few courses are offered in the summer on the Ithaca campus, and we will also provide several courses online and as webinars.
Module 1 focuses on the fundamentals of labor arbitration. Six courses are required, including a five-day introduction to labor arbitration and five two-day courses on ethics, evidence, award writing, practice development and advanced issues.
- Introduction to Labor Arbitration
- Ethics in ADR
- Evidence in Arbitration
- Labor and Employment Arbitration Award Writing
- Building Your Career as a Workplace Neutral: Developing the Business Plan
- Advanced Issues in Arbitration
Module 2 consists of a series of foundational courses including collective bargaining, labor relations law, and human resources. For students with extensive backgrounds in the foundational areas of the program, some or all of these courses may be waived at the discretion of the Scheinman Institute.
- Preparation for Collective Bargaining
- Effective Collective Bargaining Skills and Strategies (Prerequisite: Preparation for Collective Bargaining)
- Labor Relations Law
- Fundamentals of Human Resources
- Contemporary Issues in the Labor Movement
- The Law of Equal Employment Opportunity
- ADR/Dispute Resolution
Module 3 consists of elective courses including mediation, conflict management system design, facilitation, public sector mediation, fact-finding and negotiations. Students are required to complete any two of the following courses:
- Employment Law Mediator Training
- Designing Effective Dispute Resolution Systems for the Workplace
- Facilitating Negotiations: The Cornell Approach
- Mediating and Arbitrating in the Federal & Public Sectors
- Neutral Investigation and Fact-Finding of Sexual Harassment Complaints
Modules 4 provides participants with an in-depth field experience. Students gain experience observing hearings conducted by the nation's best arbitrators. Students write draft awards and will receive personal feedback from the program's participating arbitrators. During this module, students will develop their ADR business plan while working on their goal of establishing a labor arbitration practice.
- Arbitration Shadowing
- Arbitration Award Writing