Basic Skills for the New Arbitrator, Second Edition

By Allan H. Goodman

Book Overview

A hands-on training text that provides an overview of arbitration, from the prehearing phase through the hearing and deliberation of the award. The book answers 100 questions frequently asked by new... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0967097320
• ISBN13: 9780967097329
• Release Date: August 2004
• Publisher: Solomon Publications
• Length: 118 Pages
• Weight: 0.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 6.0" x 8.9"

Customer Reviews

Exquisitely Cogent Primer

Mr. Goodman's book is the finest quick primer for a new arbitrator I have ever read. For virtually anyone familiar with any type of legal procedure or mediation, the book lays out the differences specific to Arbitration. Mr. Goodman has arranged the book, so that he presents the answers to the 100 most commonly asked questions about Arbitration. The layout that he uses is in order of the Arbitration process, and thus, the questions and answers are in "as needed" sequence. This makes the book a very useful quick reference tool on all the major topics of the process of Arbitration. The book is very highly recommended to attorneys, mediators and other legal professionals as a very compact and explicit guide and quick reference book about the procedures of Arbitration.

Two Thumbs Up For Judge Goodman's Book for New Arbitrators!

As a new volunteer arbitrator for my local bar association, I found Judge Goodman's book to be indispensable in acquiring the skills and expertise for this new task. His experience in this field are excellent and he uses this experience in a question and answer format which lends itself to an easy, but extremely effective format, for new, as well as experienced, arbitrators. His hints and tips give new arbitrators the guidance and confidence necessary to lead an effective, but expedient, arbitration. This is the number one book for those new to arbitration, or those needing a review of arbitration methods and techniques.

Book Fills in the Gaps Left by Arbitrator Trainings

I first purchased and read Judge Goodman's Basic Skills For the New Arbitrator in 1994 when I began arbitrating. Having just finished reading the most recent edition, I am struck by the continuing usefulness of the detailed and practical advice contained in this book. While I have participated in arbitrator trainings over the years, they usually do not cover the nitty gritty "how to" issues this work addresses. These issues are easy to find as the Table of Contents is organized into sections devoted to each stage of an arbitration with an enumeration, under each heading, of all the questions addressed. Judge Goodman's style is clear and concise which makes the book a quick and easy read. It seems directed primarily at non-lawyers, but many lawyers, such as myself, will find in it their money's worth of advice. Personally, as much of my practice is devoted to mediation, I find reviewing the book helpful when I need to switch hats and assume a judicial (as opposed to a mediator's) demeanor. His advice in this regard, touching on body language, facial expression, and utterances, is invaluable in cultivating the proper persona of the neutral arbitrator. I highly recommend this thoughful, easy-to-read book to anyone who is starting to engage in arbitration and for those for whom it is not a weekly endeavor.

Good Information for Experienced Arbitrators, Too

As an experienced arbitrator, I am always looking for good information from those who actually are arbitrators. There are alot of books written by academics filled with theory and psychology, but this is a book by someone who obviously arbitrates for a living. As an arbitrator who is not an attorney, I found the information about dealing with attorneys, documents, objections and evidence quite helpful, as one can easily be intimidated by attorneys if they are involved in the process. The section on "Getting Paid" hit home. I too have had the experience of not getting paid by a party after the arbitration. The author's suggestion to hold the award until payment is received may sound harsh, but it certainly is sound business advice. The arrangement of the book as questions and answers, with the questions listed in the table of contents, makes this book easy to use as a quick reference. Definitely worth the price.

A MUST READ for anyone involved in any of the ADR processes.

Both of Allan Goodman's books, BASIC SKILLS FOR THE NEW MEDIATOR and BASIC SKILLS FOR THE NEW ARBITRATOR, deserve to be read and re-read by every ADR professional and every advisor to parties in dispute before he or she enters the session. As a practicing mediator, arbitrator and ADR trainer, I know I do, and it gives me the presence to relax and "enjoy" the session, because I know I will be giving the best process skills of ADR to the parties and their representatives.Concise, readily assimilated answers to some of the most perplexing problems faced by ADR neutrals are presented at each stage of the mediation and arbitration process. I would further recommend the appropriate book be given to the disputing parties to assist them in knowledgeable decision-making and a successful resolution.