A party has the right to be represented by an attorney at any proceeding or hearing under the Uniform Arbitration Act. A waiver thereof prior to the proceeding or hearing is ineffective.
§ 25-2607.Representation by attorney.
Article 26: Uniform Arbitration Act · Last amended 1987 · Last verified July 22, 2026
In one sentenceThis section gives every party the right to be represented by an attorney at any arbitration proceeding or hearing, and makes any advance waiver of that right ineffective.
Full Text of § 25-2607
Source
Laws 1987, LB 71, § 7.
Plain-English Summary
Section 25-2607 protects a party’s right to counsel throughout arbitration. Any party to a proceeding or hearing under the Uniform Arbitration Act has the right to be represented by an attorney. That right cannot be signed away ahead of time — a waiver of the right to counsel made before the proceeding or hearing has no effect.
Because the arbitration agreement itself is usually signed well before any dispute arises, this section makes sure a boilerplate clause purporting to waive representation in advance does not strip a party of counsel once an actual controversy is underway. A party remains free to appear without an attorney if they choose, but no one else can make that choice for them in advance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I have a lawyer represent me in a Nebraska arbitration?
Yes. Section 25-2607 gives every party the right to be represented by an attorney at any proceeding or hearing under the Uniform Arbitration Act.
Can an arbitration agreement require me to give up my right to a lawyer?
No. Any waiver of the right to representation made before the proceeding or hearing is ineffective under this section.
Am I required to hire an attorney for arbitration?
No. The section guarantees the right to representation; it does not require a party to retain counsel if they prefer to proceed without one.
Does this right apply only to the final hearing, or to earlier proceedings too?
It applies at any proceeding or hearing under the act, not just the final evidentiary hearing.
What if the other side’s form contract has a clause waiving the right to counsel?
That clause has no legal effect under this section, since a pre-proceeding waiver of the right to representation is ineffective regardless of when the contract was signed.
Source & verification. Section text and the amendment-history citation are
reproduced verbatim from the Nebraska Legislature, Revisor of Statutes, enacted by the
Nebraska Legislature. Last verified July 22, 2026. ·
Official source
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