International Arbitration Summer Institute

May 26 - June 18, 2026

 Registration is now open! Access Registration HERE

 

For additional information, please contact arbitration@wcl.american.edu

 

About the International Arbitration Summer Institute

Taught by leading practitioners and arbitrators from around the world, the International Arbitration Summer Institute is an intense four-week certificate program that addresses foundational and practical aspects of international commercial arbitration. This program is open to:

• Practitioners and law students from around the world who wish to take the courses for a certificate of participation (without final exam) or diploma (with final exam) from the prestigious Center on International Commercial Arbitration at AUWCL in Washington, D.C.
• Law students from law schools across the United States may apply for credit recognition for their respective J.D. programs, while enjoying classes in the Nation's capital. 
• Law students enrolled in our law school's J.D. or LL.M. programs may join the summer program (from May 26 to June 18, plus an additional week for the exams) to earn academic credit. 

Networking activities such as special lectures, coffee hours, luncheons, and site visits to D.C. law firms and institutions provide participants with ample opportunities to network beyond the classroom setting.

The International Arbitration Summer Institute is one of the annual events hosted by the Center on International Commercial Arbitration. The Center is directed by Horacio A. Grigera Naón, a renowned independent international arbitrator and former secretary general of the International Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce. Please see here for the rest of the prominent faculty of this Summer Institute. 

The entire 2026 Summer Institute will take place in-person in Washington, D.C. Participants may opt to stay in the American University's East Campus dormitories. Please reach out to us for information on the registration period for the housing, which is a short period during the spring semester. Please note there is only very limited capacity in the student dormitories for our summer institute participants, and alternative housing is recommended. 

Courses

The International Arbitration Summer Institute consists of six courses in English and six in Spanish, offered between May 26 and June 18, 2026. Participants can take all courses, or select only the ones in either language or just pick out the ones they are most interested in. Here is the list of courses with the registration links. The available courses in English are:

In English

Week 1 - The Big Issues (June 8 to 11, 2026)

• The Role of the Arbitrator in Solving Complex Choice-of-Law Issues
• Damages & Compensation in International Arbitration
• Mediation: Theory & Practice

Week 2 - Practical Skills (June 15 to 18, 2026)

• Evidence in International Arbitration
• Corruption, Illegality, and Misconduct in International Arbitration
• Construction Arbitration in the United States and in Comparative Perspective

In late May and early June, we offer the following courses in Spanish:

Semana 1 - Teoría y práctica (del 26 al 29 de mayo de 2026)

• Las mesas de resolución de conflictos (Dispute Boards)
• Arbitraje Inversionista-Estado
• La organización del procedimiento arbitral

Semana 2 - El arbitraje comercial internacional y su aplicación a problemas concretos del comercio (del 1 al 4 de junio de 2026)

• Introduccion al Arbitraje Comercial Internacional
• Arbitraje de construcción
• Introducción al arbitraje deportivo

Each of the above courses has a duration of 14 hours (equivalent to one academic credit). Of these 14 hours, 12 take place during the classes, and two are reserved for the final exam. 

Summer guest speaker series

During the Summer Institute we offer several special conferences, open to the public, that address selected topics of interest in arbitration and mediation. These conferences are an extraordinary way to learn more and engage with professionals in the field.

Diploma and Certificate of Attendance

This program has a Diploma and a Certificate of Attendance track.

To earn the Diploma, participants must be enrolled in at least three courses and pass the exams (24-hour take-home).

Those participants who take less than three courses or do not take the final exams will receive a Certificate of Attendance.

Registration and Eligibility

Foreign Attorneys and Students, as well as U.S. practitioners

Any foreign or U.S. attorney or student can enroll in the Summer Institute to take the courses to earn the Certificate of Attendance or the Diploma. Please register through the general registration page, available here. 

AU Washington College of Law and Visiting J.D. and LL.M. Candidates

Any student enrolled in a U.S. law school (ABA accredited) can enroll for academic credit. AUWCL students should enroll through Eagle Service. See Academic Calendar for registration dates. Visiting J.D. students must complete the registration form available here.

CLE credit

AU Washington College of Law is an approved CEL provider for Pennsylvania and Virginia. Attorneys licensed in Alaska, Connecticut, Colorado, Maine, Montana, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, and Wisconsin may obtain CLE credit for courses approved by Pennsylvania or Virginia.

Upon request, the Continuing Legal Education Program at American University Washington College of Law will provide attorneys with all necessary documents and information to obtain CLE credits for all other MCLE jurisdictions that have not specifically approved this course. Please contact cle@wcl.american.edu if you have any questions.