White & Case International Arbitration LLM

The University of Miami School of Law is prominently positioned, academically and geographically, for the study of international arbitration. Miami is a major international trade and finance center at the “portal to the Americas” and one of the most popular venues in the U.S. for resolving international disputes through arbitration.

Miami Law has created a unique infrastructure for students to network with international arbitration practitioners in Miami and beyond.

Students receive career advising tailored to their individual interests and professional goals. Students have the opportunity to:

• Attend international job fairs
• Participate in internships with leading international arbitration firms
• Compete in international arbitration moot court competitions
• Attend international arbitration conferences, lectures and other networking events
• Publish in U.S. and international legal journals
• Get involved in professional arbitral organizations

After completing the LL.M., foreign-trained graduates may have the opportunity to take the Bar Exam in several states in the U.S., including New York and Florida.

Graduates of the White & Case International Arbitration LL.M. Program work around the globe in prestigious international arbitration law firms, arbitral institutions and multinational corporations.

Graduates on a student visa may be eligible for a one-year employment authorization under the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program, allowing them to gain valuable practical experience in the U.S. after their L.L.M. studies. Foreign-trained graduates may also be eligible to sit for the bar exam in several states in the U.S., the most popular being New York, or opt to enroll in our J.D./LL.M. Joint Degree in International Arbitration. Both degrees can be completed in as little as two years and the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) is not required.

The International Arbitration LL.M. Program offers specialized theoretical and practical courses on all aspects of international commercial and investment arbitration. Our students are taught by a globally-renowned faculty of international arbitration practitioners and academics, including:

• Jonathan C. Hamilton - Distinguished Faculty Chair of Miami Law’s International Arbitration Institute
• Carolyn Lamm - Distinguished Faculty Chair of the International Arbitration LL.M.
• Jan Paulsson - Michael Klein Distinguished Scholar Chair Emeritus
• Meg Kinnear
• José Astigarraga
• George Bermann
• Albert Jan van den Berg

Our distinguished faculty members are also frequently recognized in leading international arbitration rankings, such as International Who’s Who of Commercial Arbitration, Chambers & Partners Global-wide, and the Legal 500 in International Arbitration. Admission to the program is highly selective, allowing for heightened attention and effective mentoring from our faculty who help students start or advance their arbitration careers.

The International Arbitration Institute is an embodiment of Miami Law’s long tradition of engagement with the law of arbitration. The Institute strives not only for progress through the education of a new generation of arbitration lawyers but also for progress through research in international arbitration.

International Arbitration LL.M. students may attend various international arbitration events organized through the Institute, including Miami Law's annual Carolyn Lamm/White & Case International Arbitration Lecture. Students also have the opportunity to work as graduate research assistants with the Institute and individual Miami Law faculty members on cutting-edge research projects related to international arbitration.

The International Arbitration LL.M. Program requires at least one academic year (9 months) of study.

The majority of students start their studies in August (Fall) and graduate in May of the following year. However, with permission from the program director, a January (Spring) start date is possible with graduation in December of the same year.

Summer studies are optional.

International Arbitration LL.M. students may study on a full-time or part-time basis depending on their individual preferences.

With permission from the program director, part-time students may convert to full-time status, and vice versa.

For part-time study, the same minimum number of credits is required for the LL.M. degree. All students must earn their LL.M. degree within two years from the initial date of matriculation.

The Joint J.D./LL.M. in International Arbitration offers the opportunity to earn both degrees at once, saving both time and tuition expense. 

International Arbitration LL.M. students wishing to obtain a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree and Miami Law J.D. students wishing to obtain an LL.M. in International Arbitration should opt for the J.D./LL.M. Joint Degree in International Arbitration.

Incoming Miami Law J.D. students may be considered for honorary 1L admission to the International Arbitration LL.M. in their first year.

Special study options to earn an LL.M. in International Arbitration for current students at other law schools in the U.S. or abroad are available.

Current students at other law schools in the U.S. or abroad may start their L.L.M. studies while attending Miami Law as visiting or foreign exchange students and may return to Miami Law to finish their L.L.M. studies in as little as one semester after graduating from their first law school.

Foreign-trained law graduates who would like to improve their English proficiency before embarking on their studies in the International Arbitration LL.M. Program may pursue a specially-designed, three-semester program on Intensive Legal English + LL.M. in International Arbitration.

The program starts once a year, in the Spring (January) semester.

During their first semester in the program, students focus on achieving the English-language and communication skills necessary to be successful in the LL.M. program.

After successful completion of their first semester, students will then join the incoming International Arbitration LL.M. class in the following semester and proceed with the regular course of studies without having to re-take the TOEFL or Academic IELTS test.

The White & Case International Arbitration LL.M. Program draws its student body from countries across the globe.

Facts & Figures on our Current Students and Alumni

During the 2019/2020 academic year, the International Arbitration LL.M. Program encompassed 55 students, of whom three-quarters were foreign-trained lawyers and law graduates and one-quarter were U.S.-trained, and who represented 39 countries and territories across five continents.

The International Arbitration LL.M. Program encompasses 40-60 students across the different study options, representing 40+ countries and territories across five continents. 

Overall, our 206 alumni and current students represent 68 countries and territories across 6 continents.