The Beverly Hills Bar Association has an opportunity that may be of interest to college students, particularly those considering future careers in law, public service, or dispute resolution.

BHBA invites students to participate as volunteer “lay arbitrators” on arbitration panels in real cases involving attorney-client fee disputes. The program is operated under rules approved by the State Bar of California and is administered by the Beverly Hills Bar Association.

According to the program’s rules, a lay arbitrator is a non-lawyer who has not been admitted to practice law in any jurisdiction; has never worked regularly for a court or a law practice of any kind as a paralegal, law clerk, or in any other capacity; and has never attended law school.

Preparation is by email and arbitrations are all conducted via Zoom, making participation accessible and flexible for students with varying schedules. As non-lawyer arbitrators, students will:

• Observe and engage in real arbitration hearings,
• Collaborate with experienced attorneys serving on the panel,
• Gain insight into legal procedures and professional conduct,
• Build practical skills such as critical thinking, communication, and decision-making, and
• Enhance their resumes with meaningful, real-world experience.

This opportunity is particularly valuable for students considering law school or careers in legal or administrative fields, as it provides exposure that is rarely available at the college level.

More details about the program are available here, and students can apply to be non-lawyer arbitrators here.

Lay arbitrators will spend an estimated 3-4 hours per arbitration on preparation, the hearing, and reviewing the award. They may decline any offered assignment for any reason. Hearings are scheduled at a time convenient for all participants after the three-arbitrator panel has been assigned. Please email with any questions.