We investigate the development problem of professional representation in the arbitration proceedings of the Russian Federation. We believe that the professional representatives participation in the arbitration process has a very positive impact on the efficiency and quality of proceedings which is carrying out by the arbitration courts. It is stated that the need for professional representatives is primarily due to the special (economic) nature of disputes considered by arbitration courts, the participation in which persons who do not have the appropriate education and knowledge, on the one hand, as a rule, does not contribute to the effective protection of their rights, on the other – delays the consideration of cases. Thus, the Arbitration procedure code of the Russian Federation will be amended in autumn 2019, concerning the requirement of compulsory higher legal education for representatives of the parties in civil and arbitration cases. The amendments provide that in addition to lawyers, they can only be persons with a higher legal education or a degree in law. The exception is cases subject to consideration by magistrates or district courts. It is concluded that the presence of higher legal education in the near future becomes a mandatory requirement for representatives in disputes considered by the arbitration courts of the Russian Federation.