CIArb Kenya organized a mentorship session at the Kenya School of Law to aid young legal practitioners in better understanding the role Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) plays in the legal world. The event was titled Advocacy in Arbitration and Mediation with the aim of introducing these young legal minds to the world of ADR.
Led by the Acting CEO Madam Evelyne Kimani, the team highlighted the need for the students to look at the trends in the legal world as appertains to dispute resolution. She noted that most people are now leaning towards ADR as a way of dispute resolution especially those in the business sector and those who would wish to retain their relations with other parties. She encourages them to position themselves strategically to be able to take up the opportunities that are coming up as a result of this trend. She proceeded to outline the various ways the young professionals could begin this journey all the way from commencing the initial course offered by CIArb to getting placed with mentors in the system and to eventually getting national as well as international recognition
David N. Njoroge, FCIArb, underscored the foundation of ADR as outlined in major legal frameworks starting all the way from The United Nations Charter in 1948 which gives the different stages of dispute resolution and placing judicial intervention as the last resort in the process. He reminded the students of the Justice Survey Report of 2017 which reported that 79% of disputes were solved out of courts of law. He encouraged the students to seek visibility in all key areas of their life by advising them to seek mentors who they should hold on to guide them through the ADR journey as well write on topical areas as often as possible to get their names out there. He closed by encouraging them to chase dedication, commitment, integrity, impartiality a well as professionalism in order to come out as good practitioners and arbitrators.
Madam Linda Mwihaki, MCIArb, spoke to the young legal minds by encouraging them to pursue a career as mediators as it is a fulfilling experience with a lot of advantages when compared to other forms of dispute resolution. What stood out for most students was the level of autonomy mediation gives to the parties that choose that path. On this, she highlighted that when it comes to mediation, the advocates are usually there to support the process and that parties are the ones that mostly speak throughout the process to bring out their needs and interests as they best know how to.
Erick W. Ng’ang’a, MCIArb, the newly elected committee member of the Young Members Group (YMG), finished off the session by encouraging the young legal professionals to harness their soft skills and invited them to join the YMG that exposes people in their age group to various events and engagements that give them the visibility that may just get them going as they start out their careers.
Author: Cynthia Bonareri (Student Kenya School of Law)
