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Pepperdine | Caruso School of Law

LLM in Dispute Resolution Curriculum

Required Courses

10 units required (8 units required for those waiving Legal Research and Writing I)

  • Arbitration Course Requirement +
  • Mediation Theory and Practice
  • Negotiation Theory and Practice
  • Psychology of Conflict Communication
  • Legal Research and Writing I (Required only for International Attorneys) *

International students sitting for the California Bar exam would complete 12 units of required courses listed above and 12 units of substantive law courses as required by the California Bar.

+ If this course was not taken to fulfill the arbitration requirement, it can be taken as an elective.

Elective Courses

12 units required (10 units required if Thesis option is chosen, or 14 units for those waiving Legal Research and Writing I)

  • Advanced Mediation Seminar
  • Advanced Trial Practice
  • Appellate Advocacy
  • Arbitration Law +
  • Arbitration Practice and Advocacy +
  • Criminal Justice Dispute Resolution Practicum
  • Cross-Cultural Conflict and Dispute Resolution
  • Current Issues in International Dispute Resolution: London/Geneva
  • Current Issues in International Dispute Resolution: Hong Kong/Beijing
  • Dispute Resolution in Education
  • Dispute Resolution and Religion
  • Divorce and Family Mediation
  • Environmental and Public Policy Dispute Resolution
  • Ethical Considerations in International Arbitration
  • Faith-Based Diplomacy and International Peacemaking
  • International Commercial Arbitration and the National Courts +
  • International Commercial Arbitration Procedure and Practice +
  • International Commercial Arbitration Theory and Doctrine +
  • International Investment Disputes
  • International Litigation
  • Interviewing, Counseling and Planning
  • Introduction to US Law
  • Mediation Clinic
  • Restorative Justice
  • Selected Issues in Dispute Resolution:
    • Apology, Forgiveness and Reconciliation
    • Conflict Consulting and Coaching
    • Decision Making Under Conflict
    • Dispute Resolution and Technology
    • Employment Disputes
    • Entertainment Industry Disputes
    • Entertainment and Sports
    • Ethical Practices in Negotiation
    • Facilitating Dynamic Groups
    • Healthcare Dispute Resolution
    • Intellectual Property
    • International Identity Based Conflict and Dispute Resolution
    • Labor Disputes
    • Leadership and Conflict
    • Managing Litigation and Conflict for Corporations and Organizations
    • Mediation Advocacy
    • Ombuds
    • Online Dispute Resolution
    • Products Liability and ADR
    • Settling Mass Torts
    • Strategic Alliances
    • Systems Design
  • Trial Practice
  • Trial Preparation and Settlement or a Substantive Law Class with Advisor Approval

International students sitting for the California Bar exam would complete 12 units of required courses listed above and 12 units of substantive law courses as required by the California Bar.

+ If this course was not taken to fulfill the arbitration requirement, it can be taken as an elective.

Externship or Thesis/Project

Experiential track (4-6 units):

Externship (2 units) or Mediation Clinic (2 units)

and LLM Independent Study (2 units)

OR

Thesis track (6 units):

Thesis/Project (6 units) required

Available Concentrations

Mediation

Students in the LLM in Dispute Resolution can pursue a concentration in Mediation. This concentration will allow students to use their electives to focus on aspects of the mediation process.

Students in the Mediation Concentration will be asked to declare their concentration prior to graduation, and must include three of the below courses:

  • Advanced Mediation
  • Mediation Clinic
  • Cross-Cultural Conflict and Dispute Resolution
  • Divorce and Family Mediation
  • Environmental and Public Policy Dispute Resolution
  • Selected Issues in Dispute Resolution: Apology, Forgiveness and Reconciliation
  • Related Thesis or Independent Study with advisor approval

Arbitration

Students in the LLM in Dispute Resolution can pursue a concentration in Arbitration.  This concentration provides students with the flexibility to balance both domestic and international arbitration topics.

Students in the Arbitration Concentration will be asked to declare their concentration prior to graduation, and must include three of the below courses:

  • Arbitration Law or Arbitration Practice and Advocacy
  • International Commercial Arbitration Theory and Doctrine
  • International Commercial Arbitration Procedure and Practice
  • International Investment Disputes
  • Arbitration Law and the Securities Industry
  • Related Thesis or Independent Study with advisor approval

Litigation

Students in the LLM in Dispute Resolution can pursue a concentration in Litigation. This concentration focuses on understanding the U.S. legal process, and will give students the opportunity to take traditional practice-oriented law courses.

Students in the Litigation Concentration will be asked to declare their concentration prior to graduation, and must include three of the below courses:

  • Trial Practice and Settlement
  • Trial Practice
  • Advanced Trial Practice
  • Appellate Advocacy
  • Complex Litigation
  • International Ligation
  • Lawyering Process
  • Related Thesis or Independent Study with advisor approval