Professional Development & Careers - White & Case International Arbitration LL.M.

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The LL.M. in International Arbitration develops practitioners that are well rounded and ready to enter the field of International Arbitration. The program's internationally-renowned arbitration faculty and staff provide students with ongoing personal advice and structural support in planning and advancing their careers in the field.

Networking & Development While Studying

During their LL.M. studies, students receive career advising tailored to their individual interests and professional goals.

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Career Opportunities & Support After Graduation

Sit for a U.S. Bar Exam

In the United States, law graduates are required to take a bar exam in order to practice law. Bar admission is regulated by each of the 50 U.S. states, and each state has complete discretion in the process. Some states permit foreign lawyers with an LL.M. degree to take the bar exam and be admitted to practice.

New York

New York is a commonly selected jurisdiction which does permit foreign applications with only an LL.M. degree. Each year a group of University of Miami LL.M. graduates sit for the New York Bar Exam. The requirements for foreign-educated LL.M. students to seek admission to the New York Bar are complex and depend upon the particular background and circumstances of each applicant. Additionally, a student’s course of study in the LL.M. program must adhere to certain guidelines (i.e., one must earn a specified minimum number of credits, and take particular courses while in the LL.M program). If an international student intends to seek admission to the New York bar following completion of an LL.M program, he or she should carefully read the New York State Board of Law Examiners Guide for Foreign Educated Students. Also required is the completion of New York State’s online Foreign Evaluation Form.

Florida

As part of a 2022 Florida Supreme Court rule change, attorneys with an LL.M. from a U.S. law school may be qualified to take the Florida Bar Exam. Individuals can qualify for this option if they: (1) complete a qualifying LL.M. at an ABA-accredited law school in the U.S., (2) are admitted to practice in another U.S. jurisdiction, (3) have practiced law for at least two years in a U.S. jurisdiction, and (4) meet other miscellaneous requirements. There are many complex factors to consider when choosing this route, and the University of Miami School of Law helps it students identify if this method of qualifying for the Florida exam is best.

Additionally, some foreign-trained lawyers become certified under a special Foreign Legal Consultancy (FLC) rule, which only allows them to counsel clients on the laws of their country of origin (and prior bar admission). However, the FLC rule does not seem to lead to broad job opportunities in Florida. If a foreign lawyer’s long-term goal is to practice law in Florida, he or she should consider Miami Law’s J.D. or LL.M. programs. If interested, please visit the joint J.D./LL.M. page.

Students in the International Arbitration LL.M. Program may enroll in foundational U.S. law courses taught as part of Miami Law's J.D. program, such as Civil Procedure, Commercial Law or Contracts, to prepare for a U.S. bar exam.

All first-year and upper-level U.S. law courses are open to LL.M. students. Students may also enroll in preparatory bar exam courses, which cover topics tested on the federal and (Florida) state portions of the bi-annual bar exam. In addition, Miami Law offers a variety of programs to help students prepare for this difficult exam, including Bar Week (series of panels, workshops, and informational sessions about bar exam logistics, preparation, and application issues), Bar Boot Camp (an exclusive supplemental bar preparation program for Miami Law graduates), weekly workshop sessions and lectures on critical skills for exam success, and review of key (Florida) subjects, as well as Bar Coaching (Miami Law graduates work individually with a "bar coach" who will provide personalized guidance throughout the bar study process).

Post-graduation Work Permit for International Students

Foreign-trained law graduates of the International Arbitration LL.M. Program may qualify for an employment authorization of a one-year period for optional practical training (OPT) in the United States immediately following their graduation from the program.

The OPT provides students with a valuable opportunity to gain practical experience in the United States prior to returning to their home countries (or seeking permanent employment in the United States). 

For additional information regarding the Option Practical Training Work Permit for International Students, please visit the International Student & Scholars service website.

International Arbitration Careers Worldwide

Miami Law students and graduates have been working around the globe with prestigious arbitration firms and institutions as well as international corporations in post-graduation, summer and practicum positions.

Africa

  • Abidjan, Ivory Coast
  • Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
  • Cairo, Egypt
  • Casablanca, Morocco
  • Johannesburg, South Africa
  • Lagos, Nigeria
  • Nairobi, Kenya

Asia

  • Ankara, Turkey
  • Bangkok, Thailand
  • Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
  • Dhaka, Bangladesh
  • Dubai, United Arab Emirates
  • Hong Kong, S.A.R. China
  • Istanbul, Turkey
  • Kolkata, India
  • Kuwait City, Kuwait
  • Lahore, Pakistan
  • Manama, Bahrain
  • New Delhi, India
  • Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
  • Seoul, South Korea
  • Shanghai, China 
  • Shenzhen, China
  • Tokyo, Japan

Central & South America

  • Bogota, Colombia
  • Caracas, Venezuela
  • Curitiba, Brazil
  • Guadalajara, Mexico
  • Guayaquil, Ecuador
  • Mexico City, Mexico
  • Panama City, Panama
  • Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
  • Santa Cruz, Bolivia
  • Santiago, Chile
  • São Paulo, Brazil

Europe

  • Amsterdam, The Netherlands
  • Basel, Switzerland
  • Brussels, Belgium
  • Frankfurt, Germany
  • Geneva, Switzerland
  • Hamburg, Germany
  • Lisbon, Portugal
  • London, United Kingdom
  • Madrid, Spain
  • Milan, Italy
  • Moscow, Russia
  • Munich, Germany
  • Paris, France
  • Prague, Czech Republic
  • Pristina, Kosovo
  • Reykjavik, Iceland
  • Rome, Italy
  • Rotterdam, Netherlands
  • Stockholm, Sweden
  • Vienna, Austria
  • Warsaw, Poland
  • Zurich, Switzerland

North America

  • Atlanta, Georgia, United States
  • Dallas, Texas, United States
  • Houston, Texas, United States
  • Los Angeles, California, United States
  • Miami, Florida, United States
  • Montreal, Quebec, Canada
  • Nassau, Bahamas
  • New York, New York, United States
  • San Francisco, California, United States
  • Seattle, Washington, United States
  • Toronto, Ontario, Canada
  • Washington D.C., United States

Prestigious Institutions and Organizations Where Graduates Have Worked

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For More Information

For questions about the International Arbitration L.L.M. Program or any of these study options, please request more information or contact: intl-llm@law.miami.edu.