Requirements
Applicants must meet the following eligibility and participation requirements to be considered for the program.
Key dates - 2026–2027 cycle
- Applications
- ClosedApplications closed Monday, September 14, 2026.
- Application Deadline
- Monday, September 14, 2026 (11:59 p.m. Pacific)
- Acceptance & Waitlist Notifications
- Friday, September 18, 2026
- Agreement & Payment Due
- Monday, September 28, 2026Accepted participants sign their agreement and pay the program fee. Full platform access opens once both are complete.
- Program Orientation
- Wednesday, September 30, 202612:00–1:00 p.m. ET / 11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. CT / 9:00–10:00 a.m. PT
- Program Begins
- October 2026Participants will receive their cohort meeting schedule during Orientation.
Orientation attendance is encouraged for all accepted participants.
Eligibility
- Be a member of the ABA Dispute Resolution Section
- Be engaged in or actively developing a dispute resolution practice
- Be willing to participate throughout the full nine-month program
- Be prepared to devote approximately four to six hours per month
- Attend cohort meetings and participate actively
- Complete practice-building assignments
- Contribute respectfully to a collaborative cohort environment
Participation expectations
- Attend scheduled cohort meetings
- Communicate with facilitators
- Complete program assignments
- Participate in group discussions
- Protect confidential information shared by other participants
- Maintain professional and respectful conduct
- Make a good-faith effort to implement the program work
Technology expectations
- Reliable internet access
- Access to email
- Ability to participate in video meetings
- Ability to access and upload online documents
- Basic comfort using an online learning platform
Time commitment
Participants should expect to devote approximately four to six hours per month to meetings, assignments, and implementation work.
Each participant invests $3,000 in their practice development for the nine-month program. Payment is due in full by Monday, September 28, 2026 and is non-refundable once the program starts.
ABA Section membership
ABA Dispute Resolution Section membership must be active before final admission into the program. Applicants who are not yet Section members may still apply, and admitted participants must remain Section members throughout their participation in the program.