Educational Promotion of Mediation and Arbitration: ADR Courses in Hong Kong Secondary Schools and Universities

Disclaimer: This article provides general information on educational initiatives in Hong Kong. It does not constitute legal advice. For advice on specific disputes or career pathways, consult a qualified professional.

Hong Kong’s legal sector is facing a well-documented talent crunch. The 2024 Judicial Manpower Report from the Judiciary noted a persistent shortfall in judicial officers, while the Law Society of Hong Kong’s 2025 Annual Report recorded 12,876 practising solicitors, a number that has grown only 2.3% since 2020. This stagnation comes as commercial disputes grow in complexity, driven by cross-border investment and the city’s role as a regional arbitration hub. The answer, according to policymakers and educational institutions, is not simply to produce more litigators. The focus has shifted to building a pipeline of dispute resolution professionals—mediators, arbitrators, and negotiators—starting from secondary school. The government’s 2025 Policy Address explicitly called for the “educational promotion of mediation and arbitration” to strengthen Hong Kong’s status as a leading ADR centre. This article examines the current state of ADR education in Hong Kong, from secondary school pilot programmes to university degree tracks, and assesses what this means for the future of the profession.

The Secondary School Pipeline: Planting the Seed Early

The HKIAC and DoJ School Outreach Programme

The most concrete development in secondary school ADR education is the joint initiative by the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC) and the Department of Justice (DoJ). Launched in 2023, the “Mediation and Arbitration in Schools” programme targets Form 4 and Form 5 students. The programme provides a structured 10-hour curriculum covering the basic principles of mediation, arbitration, and negotiation. Students participate in mock mediation sessions, often facilitated by practising mediators. The DoJ’s 2024 Progress Report on the programme indicated that 28 secondary schools had participated, reaching approximately 1,400 students. The stated goal is to have the programme in 50 schools by the 2026–2027 academic year.

The Curriculum Content and Skills Transfer

The curriculum is not merely theoretical. It focuses on transferable skills: active listening, interest-based negotiation, and impartiality. Students are taught the difference between positions and interests—a core concept in facilitative mediation. The programme also introduces the legal framework, including the Arbitration Ordinance (Cap. 609) and the Mediation Ordinance (Cap. 620) , at a basic level. This early exposure is designed to demystify the legal profession and present ADR as a viable career path. The HKIAC’s Education Committee has noted that students who complete the programme show a measurable improvement in conflict resolution skills, as assessed by pre- and post-programme surveys.

Challenges in Scaling the Programme

Scaling the programme faces two primary obstacles. First, teacher training is inconsistent. Many secondary school teachers lack familiarity with ADR concepts, requiring external facilitators to deliver the curriculum. The DoJ has allocated HK$5 million over three years to train a cadre of “ADR educators” within schools, but this is a slow process. Second, the programme competes with other extracurricular activities. Schools with heavy STEM or liberal studies commitments find it difficult to allocate 10 contact hours. The HKIAC has responded by offering a condensed 4-hour version, but this sacrifices depth.

University-Level ADR Education: From Elective to Core

The University of Hong Kong (HKU): The LLM in Arbitration and Dispute Resolution

HKU’s Faculty of Law offers the most established ADR postgraduate programme in Hong Kong: the Master of Laws in Arbitration and Dispute Resolution. The programme, now in its 20th year, admits approximately 60 students per cohort. It covers international commercial arbitration, investment treaty arbitration, and cross-border mediation. A key feature is the compulsory course on the Arbitration Ordinance (Cap. 609) , which provides a detailed analysis of the statutory framework. The programme also offers a practical component: students must complete a supervised mediation or arbitration placement of at least 40 hours. The placement requirement was introduced in 2024 to address employer feedback that graduates lacked practical experience.

The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK): The BBA-JD and ADR Stream

CUHK’s approach is to integrate ADR into the undergraduate law curriculum. The Bachelor of Business Administration and Juris Doctor (BBA-JD) programme includes an ADR stream. Students take courses on negotiation theory, mediation practice, and arbitration law. The programme’s interdisciplinary nature—combining business and law—is deliberate. It reflects the reality that commercial disputes often involve financial, contractual, and operational dimensions. The CUHK Centre for Financial Regulation and Economic Development (CFRED) also runs a series of ADR workshops for law and business students, often featuring guest speakers from the HKIAC and the Hong Kong Mediation Accreditation Association Limited (HKMAAL).

City University of Hong Kong (CityU): The School of Law and Practical Training

CityU’s School of Law offers a Postgraduate Certificate in Arbitration and Mediation. This is a shorter, more vocational programme aimed at legal professionals who want to add ADR to their practice. The certificate requires completion of four modules: Mediation Theory, Mediation Practice, Arbitration Law, and Arbitration Practice. The practical modules involve role-play assessments, where students are evaluated by experienced mediators and arbitrators. CityU also operates a Community Mediation Clinic, where law students, under supervision, provide free mediation services for small claims and neighbourhood disputes. The clinic handled 47 cases in the 2024–2025 academic year, with a settlement rate of 68%.

The Role of Professional Bodies and Accreditation

HKMAAL and the Mediator Accreditation Scheme

The Hong Kong Mediation Accreditation Association Limited (HKMAAL) is the primary accreditation body for mediators in Hong Kong. HKMAAL sets the standards for mediator training, requiring a minimum of 40 hours of approved training for general accreditation. For family mediators, the requirement is 80 hours, reflecting the additional complexity of family disputes. HKMAAL also operates a Continuing Professional Development (CPD) scheme, requiring accredited mediators to complete 10 CPD points per year. The association has partnered with several universities to offer joint accreditation programmes. For example, the HKU LLM programme is accredited by HKMAAL, meaning graduates can apply for accreditation without taking a separate course.

The HKIAC and the Arbitrator Appointment

The Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC) does not directly accredit arbitrators, but it maintains a panel of arbitrators for appointment. To be listed on the HKIAC Panel of Arbitrators, a practitioner must demonstrate substantial experience in international arbitration. The HKIAC also offers a Young Arbitrators Programme for practitioners under 40. This programme provides mentorship, networking opportunities, and reduced-fee training courses. The HKIAC’s 2025 Annual Report noted that 45% of new panel appointments were under the age of 45, indicating a deliberate effort to cultivate younger talent. The HKIAC also administers the Hong Kong Arbitration Ordinance (Cap. 609) , which provides the legal framework for arbitration proceedings in the city.

The Law Society and the Bar Association

The Law Society of Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Bar Association both offer ADR training for their members. The Law Society’s Mediation Training Course is a 40-hour programme that qualifies solicitors to act as mediators. The Bar Association offers a Negotiation and Mediation Workshop for pupil barristers. Both bodies recognise that ADR skills are now essential for legal practice, not merely an optional specialisation. The Law Society’s 2025 Practice Direction on Continuing Professional Development (CPD) requires all solicitors to complete at least 3 CPD points in ADR-related topics every three years.

Actionable Takeaways

1. For secondary school students: The HKIAC and DoJ school programme offers a free, structured introduction to mediation and arbitration; students should check with their school’s careers office to see if their school is participating.
2. For university students: The HKU LLM in Arbitration and Dispute Resolution remains the gold standard for postgraduate ADR education, while CUHK’s BBA-JD offers a unique business-law integration.
3. For legal professionals: The Law Society’s CPD requirement now mandates 3 ADR-related points every three years; the CityU Postgraduate Certificate is a practical way to meet this requirement.
4. For employers: The HKIAC’s Young Arbitrators Programme provides a direct pipeline to trained dispute resolution talent; consider sponsoring employees to attend.
5. For policymakers: The 50-school target by 2026–2027 is achievable, but teacher training funding must be increased to ensure quality delivery.