CLDP, under the auspices of the Judicial Council of Jordan, and in collaboration with the LEAD Advisory Group, the Bahrain Chamber for Dispute Resolution (BCDR), the University of Jordan, and the Center for International Legal Education (CILE) at the University of Pittsburg, kicked-off the 5th Annual Middle East Willem C Vis Pre-Moot Program on October 14-18 in Amman, Jordan. The Middle East Vis Pre-Moot Program is the premier opportunity for law students in the Middle East, North Africa, and Afghanistan to develop oral advocacy skills and practical knowledge of international sales contracts. The Pre-Moot combines a simulated competitive mooting with guidance and critical feedback from leading practitioners in order to refine team dynamics and improve individual skills. This experience prepares students to compete with law schools from around the world at the Willem C Vis Moot in Vienna, Austria.
  
On October 14-16, as the first phase of the Middle East Vis Pre-moot Program, CLDP held a three-day training session for the region's teams that intend to compete in the 22nd Annual Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot this March 2015.  The training was conducted by top arbitration professors and practitioners, alongside former CLDP Vis program participants.  Students were trained to analyze the 22nd Vis problem, develop a legal strategy and draft their respective written submissions for the competition. Participating teams included Afghanistan, Iraq, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Tunisia.
  
On October 17-18, to further expand arbitration capacity in the region, CLDP, in cooperation with the Judicial Council of Jordan, the LEAD Advisory Group, the Center for International Legal Education (CILE) at the University of Pittsburg, and the International Commercial Court (ICC), conducted an arbitration program for judges, lawyers, and law professors (“practitioners”), utilizing the Vis problem.  The program aims to prepare the region's legal experts to serve as Arbitrators for the Vis Pre-Moot, as well as develop a network of regional arbitration experts that will mentor the next generation of transactional lawyers.  Practitioners were trained on the process of arbitration and the role of arbitrators in an international commercial dispute, as well as in developing a legal analysis of the Vis problem.
  
Given the fact that dispute resolution delay is a significant impediment to doing business in the Middle East and North Africa region,  building the capacity of legal professionals in arbitration will improve economic opportunities in the region by resolving commercial disputes in an efficient and cost-effective manner.