Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution

Educational Opportunities for JD Students

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Pepperdine Juris Doctor (JD)

As a Pepperdine JD Student there are two options available to participate in Straus' Dispute Resolution programs. Pepperdine JD students can apply for a JD/Certificate, or a JD/MDR.

Certificate
Those JD students who elect to participate in the Certificate program use 14 units of their electives to take dispute resolution courses. Since all of the courses will be applied to JD electives, the cost of the Certificate is absorbed in the JD tuition, and courses can be completed within the same timeframe as the JD program. The Certificate program will provide JD students with significant lawyering skills with required courses including Client Interviewing, Mediation, Negotiation and Arbitration. Students who participate in the Certificate program are looking for a way to graduate with an additional specialty, without the commitment of a Masters program.

Master's in Dispute Resolution
Students can also elect to complete their JD with a Master's in Dispute Resolution (MDR). The 32 unit MDR program can be completed in conjunction with the JD program, and participants can still graduate within the same three years required for the JD. The Masters program builds on the Certificate experience to add required courses of Cross Cultural Conflict and Dispute Resolution; Psychology of Conflict; Communication and Conflict; the Mediation Clinic and two externships. Students can also delve deeper into specialty areas including Labor, Dispute Resolution Systems Design, Ombuds and more.

Non-Pepperdine JD

JD students from other ABA accredited law programs can transfer some units from their home school and complete the Certificate or Masters at Pepperdine. They can also elect to take our courses as a visiting student and transfer the units back to their home institution. Visiting law students typically participate in our intensive format courses offered during our Summer and Winter Intensives and two-week courses. Visiting students must submit a Visiting Student Application/Registration form for the program, a copy of their resume and a letter from their university stating 1) they are a student in good standing and 2) giving the student permission to participate in our program.