Chartered Award Writer

Chartered Award Writer (CHAW) 

A Professional Specialized Skill Training Program by Indian Arbitration Institution (IAI)

• Eligibility: Any Basic Qualification or any Formal Education with Post Graduate Diploma or Masters along with any prior work experience.

• Total Fees: Rs. 10,000/-
  (Everything Included from Admission, Course Fees and Delivery of Certificate, no additional Fees Apart from it)

• Mode: Online

• Study Material:  Will be provided through Learning Dashboard/Portal

• Learning Type: Self Paced

• Duration:  3 Months (Preferably, but can be completed anytime as soon as you give the Exam)

• Enrollment:  Any Time, there is no Fixed Enrolment Date or Day. A candidate can choose any time and the enrolment will be processed real time.

• Exam: One Online Exam, MCQ and Subjective Type Questions of 100 Marks. Passing Marks 40%. If unsuccessful, you can give additional two attempts.

• Procedure: Fill the Apply Now Form →  Pay the Requisite Amount of Fees by Clicking Pay Now Button → Then Click on Payment Confirmation button and fill the form with all the Details → Then login to the Dashboard.

Course Overview

The culmination of every arbitration proceeding rests upon a single, definitive instrument: the Arbitral Award. While months or years of intense advocacy, evidence evaluation, and procedural hearings shape a dispute, the entire process succeeds or collapses based on the legal precision, logical coherence, and structural integrity of the final award. An inadequately reasoned or procedurally defective award not only frustrates the parties involved but also risks being set aside under judicial review or denied enforcement across borders. The Chartered Award Writer (CHAW), created and certified by the Indian Arbitration Institution (IAI), is an elite, highly specialized professional training program designed to cultivate master-level craftsmanship in the drafting, scrutiny, and rendering of enforceable arbitral awards.

Writing an award is a distinct, specialized art that differs significantly from routine contract drafting, judicial decree writing, or adversarial advocacy. It requires a neutral, adjudicatory mindset, exceptional mastery over facts, and the ability to articulate complex chains of reasoning that withstand intense appellate scrutiny. The CHAW program bridges the critical gap between procedural arbitration knowledge and the practical mechanics of award construction. It trains candidates to dissect voluminous claims, filter admissible evidence, address jurisdictional objections, compute intricate financial damages, and issue reasoned directions with complete judicial clarity.

Participants in this program undergo systematic training covering every section of a standard and complex arbitral award. The curriculum covers the formulation of procedural histories, the precise distillation of framed issues, the application of substantive and procedural laws, and the exact articulation of operative orders. Special emphasis is placed on eliminating ambiguity, addressing counterclaims, structuring interest and cost awards, and anticipating potential grounds for challenge under statutory regimes such as the Indian Arbitration and Conciliation Act and the New York Convention.

Administered by seasoned arbitrators and award scrutiny experts through the IAI, the CHAW program establishes a rigorous standard for the arbitration ecosystem. Graduates emerge equipped to act as the primary draftsmen for tribunals, ensuring that every award delivered is robust, intelligible, commercially sound, and virtually unassailable before domestic courts and international enforcement bodies.

Course Structure and Modules

The tentative modules are as follows and are subject to continuous updates based on guidelines issued by the IAI Board of Skill Studies:

Module 1: Foundations and Legal Framework of Arbitral Awards

• Statutory requirements, essential elements, and classifications of arbitral awards (interim, partial, final, and consent awards).

• The legal distinction between court judgments, administrative orders, and arbitral determinations.

• Mandatory formal requirements: writing, signing, dating, and place/seat designations.

Module 2: Structural Anatomy and Layout of an Enforceable Award

• Organizing the anatomy of an award: caption, procedural history, jurisdiction, and appearances.

• Distilling pleadings: summarizing claims, defenses, set-offs, and counterclaims objectively.

• Framing issues clearly and establishing an intuitive, logical reading structure.

Module 3: Jurisdictional Determinations and Preliminary Objections

• Drafting reasoned decisions on Kompetenz-Kompetenz and scope of the arbitration agreement.

• Dealing with non-signatories, limitation periods, and pre-arbitral condition precedents.

• Addressing challenges to the tribunal’s mandate directly within the award framework.

Module 4: Evidence Evaluation and Synthesis of Fact Findings

• Synthesizing voluminous documentary records, correspondence, and site records.

• Appraising oral testimonies, witness credibility, and evidentiary admissibility.

• Handling conflicting expert witness evidence, technical audits, and quantum reports.

Module 5: The Reasoning Process: Articulating the Ratio Decidendi

• The doctrine of "reasoned awards" and judicial standards for adequate reasoning.

• Techniques to avoid contradictory findings, speculative logic, and unreasoned leaps.

• Applying the substantive law of the contract versus equitable considerations (ex aequo et bono).

Module 6: Financial Computations, Damages, Interest, and Costs

• Drafting clear findings on breach of contract, causation, and remoteness of damages.

• Formulating precise computational formulas for delay claims, loss of profit, and overheads.

• Structuring pre-award, pendente lite, and post-award interest rates and allocating arbitral costs.

Module 7: Drafting the Dispositive and Operative Order

• Drafting unambiguous operative directions that civil executing courts can enforce directly.

• Formulating currency designations, conditional reliefs, and strict payment timelines.

• Procedures for correction, interpretation of awards, and rendering additional awards.

Module 8: Pre-Issuance Scrutiny, Defect Elimination, and Challenge Mitigation

• Conducting rigorous internal scrutiny checklists to identify patent illegalities and clerical errors.

• Anticipating and neutralizing grounds for setting aside under Section 34 of the Act.

• International enforcement safeguards under the New York Convention and institutional scrutiny standards.

Importance of Doing this Course

The demand for professionals who can draft clean, well-reasoned, and resilient arbitral decisions has never been higher. While many legal and corporate practitioners understand procedural arbitration, very few possess the technical drafting expertise required to translate thousands of pages of arguments into a concise, legally binding award. Undertaking the Chartered Award Writer (CHAW) program provides this specialized capability, positioning professionals as elite technical assets in the arbitration domain.

First, this course eliminates the vulnerability of judicial interference. The vast majority of arbitral awards challenged or set aside in commercial courts suffer from poor drafting: vague reasons, overlooked counterclaims, ambiguous calculation of damages, or failure to address core jurisdictional contentions. By mastering the systematic methodology taught in the CHAW course, practitioners learn how to immunize awards against charges of perversity, patent illegality, and violations of public policy.

Second, the program builds critical adjudicatory discipline. It trains candidates to discard subjective, partisan language in favor of a neutral, authoritative voice that commands the respect of both parties. For technical experts and professionals from non-litigation backgrounds—such as engineers, accountants, and contract managers—this program demystifies the legal architecture of an award, giving them the exact linguistic and procedural tools needed to write enforceable findings on complex technical disputes.

Finally, earning the CHAW designation directly from the Indian Arbitration Institution signals verified competence and trustworthiness. It distinguishes the holder as a skilled draftsman who can dramatically reduce the time, cost, and stress associated with award finalization, making them indispensable to senior arbitrators, arbitral institutions, and corporate legal panels worldwide.

Career Prospects

The Chartered Award Writer (CHAW) qualification serves as an elite credential that unlocks highly sought-after roles across arbitral panels, dispute management practices, and commercial organizations.

Tribunal Secretaries and Legal Assistants to Arbitrators: Prominent domestic and international arbitrators routinely handle heavy caseloads and actively seek skilled legal assistants and tribunal secretaries capable of preparing draft summaries, organizing issues, and drafting foundational sections of awards. CHAW holders possess the exact skill set required to serve in these prestigious, high-visibility roles.

Independent Arbitrators and Adjudicators: For senior professionals, advocates, and sector specialists aiming to act as sole arbitrators or co-arbitrators, the ability to independently write an unassailable award is an absolute prerequisite. This credential provides the technical mastery and institutional credibility necessary to secure appointments and confidently publish reasoned decisions.

Institutional Scrutiny Officers and Case Managers: Arbitral institutions (such as DIAC, MCIA, SIAC, and ICC) employ counsel to rigorously scrutinize draft awards submitted by tribunals before approval. CHAW graduates are naturally suited for institutional case counsel and award scrutiny officer positions, ensuring compliance with institutional rules and statutory guidelines.

In-House Dispute Strategists and Claims Directors: Corporate legal heads, PSUs, and infrastructure giants look for professionals who can analyze opposing draft awards or evaluate the strength of an award for enforcement or setting-aside strategies. CHAW training enables in-house leaders to pinpoint critical flaws in rendered awards and plan swift legal action.

Necessary Details

The Indian Arbitration Institution ensures that this advanced professional credential is delivered through an accessible, transparent, and flexible structure tailored to the schedules of working professionals and specialized practitioners.

Eligibility To maintain high academic and professional standards, the prerequisite for enrollment requires:

• Any Basic Qualification or any Formal Education with a Post Graduate Diploma or Master's Degree, along with prior work experience.

This criterion ensures candidates have the intellectual maturity and contextual background necessary to navigate complex adjudicatory drafting.

Total Fees The all-inclusive fee for the program is Rs. 10,000/-. In line with the IAI's commitment to financial clarity, this single fee covers the complete process: registration, access to the learning dashboard, study modules, examination processing, and the final physical printing and domestic delivery of your Certificate. There are no additional, hidden, or recurring charges.

Mode and Study Material The entire program is delivered Online, enabling participants to study from any location without geographic barriers. All comprehensive Study Material—including award templates, scrutiny checklists, landmark court rulings, and drafting manuals—is made available directly through the designated Learning Dashboard/Portal.

Learning Type and Duration The training is conducted on a Self-Paced basis, allowing participants to adjust their study hours around existing professional commitments. While the recommended duration is 3 Months, candidates can progress at their own speed and complete the program as soon as they are ready to sit for the final exam.

Enrollment Enrollment is open Any Time throughout the year. There are no fixed batch start dates or application deadlines; registration is processed in real time, granting immediate portal and material access upon completion of the steps.

Examination Structure Certification requires completing One Online Exam comprising a balance of Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) and Subjective Drafting Questions totaling 100 Marks.

• Passing Criteria: 40%

• Re-attempt Policy: Candidates who do not clear the examination on their first attempt receive two additional attempts at no extra fee.

Procedure

1. Apply: Complete the Apply Now Form on the official portal.

2. Pay: Pay the requisite fee of Rs. 10,000/- by clicking the Pay Now button.

3. Confirm: Click on the Payment Confirmation button and fill out the form with all required transaction and personal details.

4. Access: Log in to the Learning Dashboard to immediately access your study modules and commence the program.