Arbitrator resume example and template to help you format a clear, professional document that highlights dispute resolution skills and legal knowledge.
This guide shows you how to present experience, craft effective bullet points, and tailor your resume for arbitration panels and hiring managers.
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💡 Pro tip: Use this template as a starting point. Customize it with your own experience, skills, and achievements.
Why this arbitrator resume example matters
Hiring committees look for clear evidence that you can manage hearings, write reasoned awards, and maintain neutrality under pressure.
An arbitrator resume example helps you prioritize the right information so reviewers can quickly see your relevant experience and decision making skills.
This format emphasizes measurable outcomes, procedural expertise, and relevant certifications, so your candidacy stands out whether you are seeking part time appointments or a full time panel position.
You will learn which sections to include and what to say in each one.
Resume format to use for arbitrator roles
Choose a clean, professional layout with distinct sections for contact information, summary, experience, education, credentials, and publications or panels.
Use a readable serif or sans serif font at 10 to 12 points with consistent margins to ensure your resume prints cleanly and displays well on screen.
Limit the resume to two pages when you have extensive arbitration history, and to one page if you are early in your arbitration career.
Use reverse chronological order for experience and list recent appointments and hearings first so reviewers see your most current work.
H1: Summary example for an arbitrator resume example
Your summary should be a concise 2 to 3 sentence snapshot that opens the resume and includes your arbitration specialty and years of experience.
For example, state your practice area, average caseload, and a quantifiable result so readers immediately understand your competence and focus.
Keep language direct and professional, and avoid generic phrases.
Tailor the summary to the appointment type, whether commercial, labor, construction, or international arbitration.
Work experience section with bullet examples
List roles that show hearing management, award writing, and case administration, and lead with the appointment title and forum or employer name.
For each position include 3 to 6 bullets that begin with a strong action verb and include specific outcomes, such as number of hearings conducted, average award turnaround time, or types of disputes resolved.
Sample bullets, adjusted to your record, could read:
• Presided over 45 commercial contract arbitrations involving contract interpretation and remedies, issuing awards within an average of six weeks.
• Drafted reasoned awards that were upheld on review in 90 percent of challenges, demonstrating clarity and adherence to procedural rules.
• Managed multi-party hearings with international counsel, coordinating remote testimony and document production schedules.
Skills, procedures, and tools to highlight
Include a targeted skills list that focuses on procedural knowledge, case management, writing, and relevant law that apply to arbitration.
Mention familiarity with institutional rules, such as ICC, AAA, LCIA, or UNCITRAL rules, and any software you use for case management, efiling, or virtual hearings.
Separate soft skills from technical ones so a reviewer can quickly see courtroom demeanor, neutrality, analytical writing, and time management each represented.
Keep the skills list concise and relevant to the roles you seek.
Education, credentials, and continuing training
List your law degrees, bar admissions, and arbitration credentials in a clear section.
Include arbitration-specific training such as mediation certificates, fellowship programs, or panel appointments, and provide dates and issuing organizations so credentials can be verified easily.
If you have published awards, articles, or panel memberships, add a short publications and appointments subsection.
That information demonstrates ongoing engagement with the arbitration community and can differentiate your candidacy.
Sample arbitrator resume example (concise layout)
This sample shows how to structure your resume headings and bullets so an arbitrator resume example reads like a professional record.
Use a header with your name and contact, then the summary, experience entries with bullets, education, credentials, and optional publications or panels.
Example layout begins with a two to three sentence summary, followed by Experience where each appointment lists forum, dates, and three strong bullets that quantify your work.
Tailor each bullet to emphasize aspects that appointment selectors value, such as impartiality, timeliness, and clarity of awards.
How to tailor your arbitrator resume example for different panels
Match the resume to the panel by emphasizing the types of disputes that panel members decide, such as labor, construction, or securities disputes.
If a panel prioritizes international experience, highlight cross border hearings, familiarity with private international law, and multilingual capabilities.
Review the panel or employer requirements and mirror language from the posting when appropriate, while keeping your descriptions factual.
Customize your summary and top bullets to reflect the priorities of the appointment to improve relevance.
Writing clear award and hearing descriptions
Describe decisions and hearings in a way that shows your legal reasoning skills without disclosing confidential details.
Use neutral language to summarize the issues, your role, and the outcome, and quantify where you can, such as how many hearings or average award lengths.
Avoid case citations that may breach confidentiality unless the awards are published or the parties have consented.
Focus on process and results that demonstrate procedural competence and sound legal judgment.
ATS and formatting considerations for arbitrator resumes
Many organizations still screen resumes with software before a human reviewer sees them, so keep formatting simple and avoid headers or footers for core content.
Use standard section headings and plain text for dates and roles so automated systems can parse your experience accurately.
Save your resume as a PDF or Word document according to the panel instructions, and check the file for accessibility by copying text to a plain editor.
If the panel requests specific fields or forms, follow those directions exactly to avoid disqualification on a technicality.
Checklist before you submit your arbitrator resume example
Proofread for grammar and consistent date formats, and verify that all credentials and bar admissions are current and accurate.
Confirm that your contact details are up to date, and that any listed publications, appointments, or awards are verifiable and listed with dates.
Ask a colleague or mentor to review the resume for clarity and emphasis, and run a final check against the panel requirements to make sure you addressed each requested item.
Keep a master version of your resume and save tailored copies for each application.
Best Practices
Start with a targeted 2 to 3 sentence summary that names your arbitration specialty and years of experience
Lead experience entries with appointment title, forum, and dates, then use 3 to 6 bullets with measurable outcomes
Highlight institution rules and procedural expertise such as ICC, AAA, LCIA, or UNCITRAL when relevant
List arbitration training, panel appointments, and publications in a separate credentials section
Keep formatting simple for readability and for automated screening tools
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Additional Tips
- 1Quantify your arbitration work where possible, for example number of hearings, average award turnaround, or percentage of awards upheld on review
- 2Use active verbs and focus each bullet on an action and a result to show your effectiveness
- 3Maintain a concise publications and appointments list, and include links for published awards when allowed
Final Thoughts
A strong arbitrator resume example highlights your procedural knowledge, decision writing ability, and impartial hearing management with clear headings and quantifiable bullets.
By tailoring your summary and top experience bullets to the panel you target and by keeping formatting straightforward, you increase the chances that reviewers will see your fit quickly.
Use this template as a master version and create tailored copies for each application, and consider asking a trusted colleague to proofread before you submit.