Welcome from Pepperdine's Global Programs

Congratulations on your acceptance to Pepperdine Caruso Law School! You are probably trying to visualize what law school will be like and what experiences you may have as you pursue your Juris Doctor degree. Can you picture yourself spending a semester studying law and working in London, England? Or maybe you will spend a semester in a full-time externship in Washington, D.C., working for a judge, a member of Congress on Capitol Hill, a lobbying firm, or the Department of Justice. These are just a few of the opportunities that our students have as they pursue their Pepperdine Caruso Law degree.

Pepperdine Caruso Law School's London program began in the 1980s. Students in the fall semester of their second or third year of law school can choose to attend classes in Pepperdine's "London House" in the Knightsbridge/South Kensington area of London, near attractions such as the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Royal Albert Hall, and Hyde Park. The London course offerings include classes taught by a Pepperdine faculty member who also serves as the program director, as well as classes taught by adjunct faculty based in London. In addition, students have the opportunity to earn academic credit working in legal externships in London and to compete in advocacy competitions against British law students. The London program will continue through the Fall 2017 semester, and its continuation beyond that semester is currently under review.

The Pepperdine Caruso Law School Washington, D.C. Externship Semester is offered every Spring semester. Participating second and third year law students spend their spring semester in our nation's capital where they perform legal work in full-time externships. They also complete coursework at Pepperdine's Washington, D.C., facility, located on Pennsylvania Avenue just four blocks from the White House. This unique program gives students an opportunity to gain "on the job" legal experience while continuing their progress toward their JD degrees. Current and former students have worked in all three branches of the federal government, as well as in lobbying firms and diverse nonprofit advocacy organizations.

During the summer, Pepperdine students have the opportunity to study at the University of Augsburg in Germany as part of an educational exchange program. Additionally, through Pepperdine's Global Justice Program, students may spend the summer in Kampala, Uganda, working with members of the Ugandan Judiciary, while others have the opportunity to do legal work and/or human rights work in places such as Rwanda, India and Peru. There may be other international summer opportunities, as several students in recent years have served in externships in Israel through Pepperdine's Glazer Institute. Finally, a shorter-term study abroad experience is offered every summer through the Straus Institute, which offers Study Tours to Europe and Asia in alternate years.

Pepperdine gives its students a world-class education, both on its Malibu campus and around the globe. I look forward to seeing you at Pepperdine and to further discussing these unique opportunities with you.

Sincerely,

Carol Chase
Director of Global Programs,
Professor of Law
Pepperdine University Caruso School of Law
carol.chase@pepperdine.edu