Arbitration is a complete parallel civil justice system, and it operates on rules most litigants encounter only once. This guide covers the whole life cycle: how an agreement is formed and attacked, how a motion to compel is briefed and decided, who decides arbitrability, and what happens when the case reaches the arbitrator. It explains the Federal Arbitration Act section by section, the severability and delegation doctrines that route most challenges away from courts, and the state contract defenses that still work. It sets out arbitrator selection and disclosure, the limited discovery available, hearing procedure, and the form of the award. It covers confirmation, the four statutory vacatur grounds, and the asymmetric appeal rules. It closes with drafting guidance, sector-specific notes, and a deadline reference.