LLM in Dispute Resolution
Build Expertise in Dispute Resolution
The LLM in Dispute Resolution prepares attorneys and law graduates to strengthen their practice through advanced study in negotiation, mediation, arbitration, litigation, and conflict resolution. Students build legal knowledge alongside practical skills that can be applied across private practice, business, government, and nonprofit settings.
Straus offers more dispute resolution academic programs than any other American law school and more than 50+ courses covering specialized areas of dispute resolution. This breadth of study allows students to tailor their coursework to their professional interests while learning from faculty who continue to advance the field through practice, research, and leadership.
LLM in Dispute Resolution Program Benefits
The Nation’s Premier LLM in Dispute Resolution
Study at the Straus Institute, which offers more dispute resolution academic programs than any other American law school and is consistently recognized among the nation's top dispute resolution programs
Practice Ready Legal Training
Apply legal theory through experiential learning opportunities, including simulations, the Mediation Clinic, and externships that prepare students for professional practice.
Quick Facts
| Format: | In-Person or Online |
| Enrollment Options: | Part-Time or Full-Time |
| Length: | 12 - 24 Months |
| Start Term: | Fall |
| Units: | 24 |
| Location: | Malibu |
Built for Attorneys
An advanced curriculum designed for attorneys and law graduates seeking specialized expertise in dispute resolution.
50+ Elective Courses and Concentrations
Choose from one of the most comprehensive LLM in Dispute Resolution curricula, with over 50+ elective courses covering mediation, arbitration, negotiation, litigation, international dispute resolution, and more allowing for customization of your degree.
Distinguished Faculty
Learn from respected scholars, practicing attorneys, mediators, arbitrators, and judges who continue to influence the field.
Global Perspective
Explore dispute resolution through international coursework, visiting faculty, and study opportunities that examine legal systems around the world.
Professional Network
Connect with attorneys, judges, mediators, arbitrators, and legal professionals from across the United States and around the world.
Flexible Program Options
Complete the LLM in Dispute Resolution in 12–24 months through full-time or part-time study options designed for attorneys and law graduates.
Concentrations
Mediation
This concentration will allow students to use their electives to focus on aspects of the mediation process.
Arbitration
This concentration provides students with the flexibility to balance both domestic and international arbitration topics.
Litigation
This concentration focuses on understanding the US legal process through practice-oriented law courses.
Degrees/Program
Tailor your degree from the nine degrees/programs available.
Customized Dispute Resolution Degree
Customize and choose from more than 50 courses in Dispute Resolution.
Top-Ranked Program
Top-ranked for dispute resolution in the US 16 times the last 22 years (USNWR).
International Alumni
Our alumni represent more than 63 countries.
Top Choice
More students have chosen our MDR program than any other institution in the US.
Malibu
Malibu campus consistently ranked among the most beautiful places to study.
Faculty
Top-ranked University for faculty accessibility to students (Princeton Review).
Scholarships
100% of applicants are considered for scholarships. Full scholarships available for eligible veterans.
Take the Next Step
Reach out to us to learn more about Pepperdine's LLM in Dispute Resolution program.
Get In Touch
Fill out the Request Information form to learn about the opportunities that await you and get in contact with a recruiter.
Attend an Info Session
Join us to get an in-depth look into Caruso Law, our distinct program offerings and our admissions process, while engaging in Q&A.
Start Your Application
Accepted on a rolling basis, applications need to be submitted prior to the intended start date and up to one year in advance.
Why Pepperdine
Pepperdine Caruso School of Law has experienced remarkable growth and distinction among American law schools, marked by rising national recognition and a strong commitment to excellence. As part of a Christ-centered university, we combine rigorous legal training with enduring values that shape both professional preparation and personal formation.
Our community reflects a wide range of backgrounds and perspectives, united by a shared
commitment to academic rigor, character, and purpose. Here, students are challenged
and supported to grow beyond what they thought possible and to pursue lives of meaning,
leadership, and service.
Beautiful Malibu, CA Campus
Flexible Course Schedules
Small Class Sizes
7:1 Student:Faculty
Global Alumni Network
Admission and Tuition
Application Requirements
Applicants for admission to the Pepperdine Caruso School of Law's Master of Laws program must have completed the first degree of law required for law practice or law teaching in the country in which law studies were pursued.
Candidates must submit the following materials to be considered for admission:
- Application through LSAC
- Official transcripts for all degrees earned or in-progress, including any available class rankings. Transcripts originating outside the United States must be evaluated before submission to Pepperdine
- One to two page personal statement
- Current resumé or CV
- Two narrative letters of recommendation or completed Personal Evaluation Forms
Tuition
Scholarships
Learn more about LLM student scholarships
Information Sessions
Let Us Show You Around
The Caruso School of Law is perched atop the iconic Pepperdine University Malibu, California campus. Let us take you on a tour through the entire law school, from the classrooms to the on-campus housing and show you all of the people and resources available to equip you with all you need to succeed in your legal education.
See Dispute Resolution Differently from Malibu
Housed on the award-winning Malibu campus, the expansive University sits on 830 acres and overlooks the Pacific Ocean, with nearly every spot on campus featuring stunning and breathtaking views of the beaches.
Expand Your Career Paths
The LLM in Dispute Resolution prepares attorneys to deepen their expertise in negotiation, mediation, arbitration, and dispute resolution while expanding opportunities within legal practice. Graduates apply their specialized knowledge across law firms, corporate legal departments, government agencies, international organizations, courts, and alternative dispute resolution providers, helping clients resolve complex disputes through effective advocacy and collaborative problem solving.
Distinguished Faculty
Faculty are accomplished legal scholars and dispute resolution experts committed to providing students with the resources they need to succeed in our LLM in Dispute Resolution program. Our faculty empower students with the practical training and ethical judgment needed to meet the complex challenges they may encounter while settling disputes and solving conflicts.
Student Experience for a Lifetime of Success
Explore exciting opportunities and engage the community through institutes, student organizations, extracurriculars, and research opportunities. Direct access to faculty and proximity to greater Los Angeles add to the robust experience.
International Student Experience
Build community and lifelong relationships with peers and colleagues through a cohort model and optional residential experience. The Pepperdine community extends beyond the LLM in Dispute Resolution program to the larger CSOL, Straus Institute, and Pepperdine family.
A dedicated enrollment services officer will make your admissions process easy and comfortable with experience in supporting international students. Dedicated support for international students is provided through the Office of International Student Services (OISS). We offer opportunities to participate in university social, sporting, cultural, and spiritual events. Our program is designed to facilitate peer support and lifelong relationships with colleagues.
Top-Ranked and Top Choice
#1 More students have chosen our MDR program than any other institution in the US (National Center for Education Statistics)
#1 for Dispute Resolution in the country 16 times the last 22 years (USNWR)
#1 Malibu Campus Consistently Ranked Among the Most Beautiful Places to Study
#1 Ranked Faculty for Accessibility to Students (The Princeton Review)
#8 Ranked for Practical Training (preLaw Magazine)
#45 Best Law Schools (USNWR)
#29 Best Law Schools (The Princeton Review)
A Premier Faith-Based School
Pepperdine has always had a singular mission: to strengthen students for lives of purpose, service, and leadership in a learning environment where academic excellence is rooted in Christian faith and values.
As one of the few LLM in Dispute Resolution programs based at a Christian university, we incorporate a unique approach to human, moral, and ethical dimensions of dispute resolution.
We empower students from all faith backgrounds to transform into the best possible expression of themselves for meaningful work and purposeful lives.
What Our Alumni Are Saying
"My LLM was transformational in terms of how I viewed conflict in my own life. It was a year of exposure to new ideas and concepts which have formed the basis of my practice and teaching since leaving."
- Sala Sihombing, LLM In Dispute Resolution '12
"Pepperdine taught me the central role of lawyers as professionals who transform conflicts into solutions. It instilled in me the conviction that excellence is not an occasional goal, but a daily commitment that should never be compromised."
- Felipe Glioche, LLM In Dispute Resolution '24
"My time at Pepperdine was truly the experience of a lifetime. What particularly made Straus unforgettable were the people, the community, and the incredible sense of purpose I found on the Malibu campus."
- Sebastian Knauer, LLM In Dispute Resolution '24
"Earning my LLM at Pepperdine was transformative. Through the Women’s Negotiation Academy, I honed my leadership and negotiation skills. It empowered me to approach complex conflicts with confidence, strategic vision, and empathy."
- Aline Rosado Targino da Nobrega, LLM in Dispute Resolution '19
Accreditations and Recognitions
Krestina Torossian
Senior Manager, Recruitment and Admissions
Email
310.506.4314
Take the Next Step
Learn more about Pepperdine's LLM in Dispute Resolution