London/Paris/Geneva International Study Tour
Study in London, Paris, and Geneva
Next Tour: May 18th - 28th, 2020
Participants in this course will study dispute resolution in three of the most important cities in the world - London, Paris and Geneva. In London, the focus will be on international commercial dispute resolution. During the second week of the course, participants will also study international public dispute resolution in Paris and in Geneva, Switzerland. Participants will learn about public dispute resolution systems through classes with guest speakers and site visits to the World Trade Organization, the International Chamber of Commerce, the International Court of Sport at the International Olympic Committee (Lausanne), and the International Compensation Programmes at the International Organization for Migration, among others.
In 2015, 22 Pepperdine students from the U.S., Iran and Uzbekistan, and one visiting student from the University of San Diego participated in the program along with one auditing lawyer. The diversity of the students along with the distinguished faculty make this tour a fantastic opportunity to learn about dispute resolution from many different perspectives and approaches.
Course Description
Current Issues in International Dispute Resolution – A European Perspective on International Commercial and Public Dispute Resolution in London, England; Paris, France; and Geneva, Switzerland (2 units)
Students spend the first four days in London, go to Paris on Friday, and reconvene on Monday evening in Geneva for the remaining four days of class. This course is designed to provide a professional setting for international study, features a prominent faculty team, a limited number of students, and an unparalleled opportunity not only to learn about but also to experience private and public sector international dispute resolution institutions. The program utilizes collaborative consulting scenarios and includes classroom activities and site visits in London, Paris and Geneva.
More about coursework, site visits, and faculty
Program Eligibility
Students must be in good standing at the Caruso School of Law or at another ABA-accredited law school with permission from that school's dean to participate in the program (visiting student).
Visiting students from other law schools must submit a letter from the Dean of their law school stating that they have permission to attend and are in good standing. Grading and credit for the course is subject to determination by the visiting student's home school.
Enrollment is limited to 24 (twenty-four) students.
Program Costs
Students are responsible for tuition, transportation to London and back home from Geneva, lodging in London, and an activity fee to cover group activities in all three countries, and housing in Paris and in Geneva.
The course is charged by Pepperdine Caruso Law School's standard tuition rate of $2,115 per unit (2019-2020 academic year). The costs for this two-unit class is $4,230, plus an estimated $1,600 activity fee which includes group social functions in London, Paris and Geneva, such as a Reception Lunch, tube pass, bus tour, and pub gathering in London, bus passes, certain meals, tickets to a concert, train to Paris, hotel in Paris, train to Geneva, and hotel in Geneva. Guests are welcome to accompany students on this trip and will need to pay the activity fee to cover the cost of their participation in the non-academic group events. Students also need to make their own hotel arrangements in London, and all necessary flights to London and back home from Geneva. Round trip flights to London vary from $1,100 to $1,600. Students have a variety of hotel options in London which run as low as $1,250 per week, but must stay at the class designated hotels in Paris and Geneva.
Grading and Attendance
Regular attendance is required in all courses. The maximum number of hours missed, whether excused or unexcused, shall not exceed two (2) times the unit value of the course. Students missing more than that number may be academically dismissed from the class, may not be allowed to sit for any scheduled exams, and may not be given academic credit for the course.
This course will be graded on a High Pass/Pass/Credit/Fail basis.
It is unlikely that participation in a foreign summer program can accelerate graduation. Acceptance of any credit or grade for any course taken in the program is subject to determination by the student's home school.
Facilities
The London component of the course is held at the Pepperdine University London Centre located at 56 Prince's Gate, London SW7. This six-story building is owned by the university and is centrally located in the prestigious Westminster-Knightsbridge-South Kensington area. The building is directly across the street from the University of London's Imperial College, and midway between the Victoria and Albert Museum on the south, and Hyde Park and the Royal Albert Hall on the north. Some of the course administration is done from this office; the rest is done from the Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution in the Pepperdine University Caruso School of Law in Malibu, CA.
In Paris classes will be held in a Conference room at the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC)**, and in Geneva in the Alabama Room at the Hotel de Ville**, located along Rue de l'Hotel-de-Ville.
** Tentative
Access for Students with Disabilities
The program makes every effort to be accessible to students with disabilities and has hosted disabled students in the past. The program also recognizes that it is being held in foreign countries whose laws might be different from American standards.
Notes
- Students in good standing will be allowed to sign up for this 2-unit course on a first-come, first-served basis. Spaces in this course fill up very quickly. Early applications are recommended.
- The program might be canceled if the University determines that world events present unreasonable risks for students to travel to London, Paris or Geneva. Another reason the program might be canceled is a lack of student interest. The program, however, has never been cancelled before.
- Students can withdraw from the tour as follows:
- Before March 1st, 2020 – forfeit $500 non-refundable deposit
- After March 1st, 2020 – forfeit $500 non-refundable deposit and still responsible for paying class activity fee.
- All cancellation notices, above-referenced and other policies are announced at informational meetings for students attending the program, and via email.
- Disability: Pepperdine will make an effort to provide reasonable accommodations for students with disability whenever possible throughout the tour.
- For travel information, please refer to the U.S. Department of State - Bureau of Consular Affairs website.
- Students should not make any travel plans, nor incur in any expenses until the Tour is formally confirmed by Pepperdine University. Students who do incur in such expenses will be solely and personally responsible for them. Pepperdine University is not liable for any expense made in anticipation of the Tour.
For more information, please contact Marcelo Rosadilla at 310.506.4655, or at mrosadilla@pepperdine.edu.