Curriculum - White & Case International Arbitration LL.M.

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The International Arbitration LL.M. Program comprises nine months of intensive study and training in the field through specialized theoretical and practical international commercial and investment arbitration courses, including basic and advanced lectures, workshops, and seminars, as well as hands-on skills and academic writing courses.

Short-Course Format

Many of our international arbitration courses are taught in an innovative short-course format, allowing for intensive daily study of the topic over the course of one week.

Students may choose to focus their studies on international commercial arbitration, international investment arbitration, or learn about both. Moreover, students have the opportunity to participate in our International Arbitration LL.M. Practicum program during their studies by completing a legal externship with prominent international arbitration firms and institutions in Miami and beyond.

Credits

The International Arbitration LL.M. Program requires a minimum of 24 credits, 12 of which must be in international arbitration course, completed with a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.3/4.00.

For the remaining credits, students may choose additional international arbitration and alternative dispute resolution courses, foundational American law courses, and/or any other courses from Miami Law's vast curriculum of 300+ annual lectures, seminars, workshops, clinics, and externships.

Miami Law also offers LL.M. students the opportunity to enroll in preparatory bar exam courses, which cover topics tested on the federal and state portions of the bi-annual U.S. bar exam. Students may pursue a variety of paths to reach their individual study goals.

Martin Hunter

"A good LL.M. program offers its students more than merely sufficient 'knowledge' of a subject to enable them to pass a written examination at the end of the course. 21st century LL.M. students...also seek training in the skills that a credible practitioner needs in an increasingly specialist world. At University of Miami Law School, Professor Jan Paulsson has designed and put together an innovative LLM course divided between a 'bootcamp', in which he teaches the theory and practice of international arbitration, followed by a series of elective modules led by about half-a-dozen world-class specialists in different seminar and/or 'mock' international arbitration formats."

Professor Martin Hunter, Barrister, Essex Court Chambers

I. Required International Arbitration Core Concepts and Skills Courses

Students take a certain number of required international arbitration core concept and skills courses during the fall and spring semesters. Required courses include introductory courses on Basic Concepts in International Arbitration and the New York Convention, as well as a two-semester simulation of an international arbitration proceeding, covering all practical aspects of an arbitration from the arising of the dispute to the final hearing, where students obtain hands-on lawyering skills.

Basic Concepts in International Arbitration

This is an intensive course intended for two types of students: those who are generally interested in international business transactions and want an overview of the most frequent method for resolving contractual disputes, and those who are intending to go on to take more intensive courses in the field of international arbitration.

Forensics of Advocacy in International Arbitration I & II

This is a two-semester simulation of arbitral proceedings, covering all practical aspects of an international arbitration from the genesis of a dispute to a plenary hearing. The Fall course segment focuses on the initial stages of an arbitration, including the filing of a request for arbitration, selection of arbitrators, document production, and preparation of written submissions (including legal memoranda and expert witness statements). The Spring course segment covers the hearing phase, including pre-hearing preparation, oral arguments and witness examination.

International Arbitration and the New York Convention

The New York Convention of 1958 on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards provides for the international enforcement of arbitral awards. Considered as the most successful international convention in international private law, the Convention now has over 160 Contracting States and more than 2,000 court decisions interpreting and applying the Convention. The course analyzes and compares the most important ones of those decisions. It will offer a unique insight in treaty design, statutory enactments, varying court approaches, and the practice of international arbitration.

II. Elective International Arbitration Courses

Students may also choose from several elective international arbitration courses during the fall and spring semesters: including hands-on practical courses, academic writing seminars where students research and develop cutting-edge international arbitration topics, courses on specific sectors of international arbitration, such as investment arbitration, maritime or cultural heritage arbitration, as well as courses on international arbitration in specific geographical regions, such as the United States, Latin America and Europe.

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  • Advanced Oral Advocacy in International Arbitration

     This course covers the theories and strategies for persuasively advocating one's case and examining witnesses before the tribunal. Class time will be spent discussing, preparing for, and having students perform in the roles of counsel and witnesses for cross examination, as well as opening and closing statements with review provided on an ongoing basis.

  • Advanced Topics in Arbitration: Theory & Publication

    This 2-semester seminar will focus on an advanced topic in international arbitration to be identified annually as a theme for the International Arbitration Institute. In the Fall semester, the focus will be on theoretical approaches to the topic, with readings and class discussion. In the Spring semester, students will engage in writing and discussion as part of a thought leadership project.

  • Arbitral Institutions in a Changing and Challenging World

    As arbitration institutions and their caseloads have proliferated in recent decades, they have faced increasing scrutiny by users, experts, and the public into the way in which they manage and finance themselves, administer proceedings, institute reforms, maintain independence and impartiality, and address conflicts of interest. This course explores these broad issues and analyzes the role and functions of arbitration institutions through the lens of the wider debate on the legitimacy of arbitration.

  • Arbitration of Cultural Heritage Disputes

    This course aims at examining the specific traits of the disputes relating to cultural heritage items and one of the most important alternative dispute resolution (ADR) mechanisms, namely arbitration. The purpose of this course is to develop the students' awareness and understanding of the nature, advantages and limitations of arbitration so that, as lawyers or consultants, they will be able to help clients select the most efficient method of preventing, managing and resolving cultural heritage-related disputes.

  • Complex International Negotiations

    This course focuses on complex negotiations and lawyering skills relevant to navigating the new era of globalization. The course focuses on the legal, policy and skill issues to complex international negotiations, in the context of current events such as global debates over international investment and the new NAFTA. This customized course is based on case studies derived from international arbitration proceedings and negotiations related to high profile cross-boarder investments in diverse industry sectors.

  • Drafting Complex Arbitration Clauses

    This course will provide students with an overview on the drafting of complex arbitration clauses in an international context and has important practical applications. One of the objectives of this course is to enable students to anticipate and recognize issues in the formation and enforcement of arbitration agreements that are typical or particularly prevalent in complex international business transactions and to develop important approaches to minimizing the risks associated with them. 

  • Federal Arbitration Act

    Arbitration is an essential part of dispute resolution today, including both purely domestic disputes as well as cross-border disputes. As a consequence, practitioners are required to understand the legal framework under which arbitration is conducted in the United States. This course is an introduction to the Federal Arbitration Act (FAA), the arbitration practice under state law and the UNCITRAL Model Law (which was adopted for international commercial arbitration in Florida).

  • ICSID Practice and Procedure

    This course presents unique insight into ICSID practices and procedures, covering every aspect of an ICSID proceeding from the filing of a request for arbitration to post-award remedies and enforcement. The course also focuses on prominent topics in the field of investor-state dispute settlement, such as the transparency of cases, the participation of non-disputing parties, and the time and cost of proceedings.

  • International Arbitration and European Union Law

    This course examines the acute tensions that have developed over recent years--and subsist--between international legal orders that we have seen in recent memory. The underlying tensions are affecting principally investor-State arbitration, but international commercial arbitration as well, exposing conflicts between the very raisons d'être of the two highly powerful regimes.

  • International Arbitration in Latin America & the Caribbean

    This course covers various issues related to international arbitration in Latin America and the Caribbean.

  • International Arbitration in the New Economy

    The rise of the New Economy has presented a number of challenges and opportunities for both international commercial arbitration and investor-state dispute settlement. One set of questions is whether international commercial arbitration is well suited to technology disputes. These issues include how arbitration may be used in license agreements, end-user agreements, and potential IP disputes. Among other things this course analyzes what constitutes an "investment in the New Economy" and the rise of international privacy and cyber-security disputes. 

  • International Arbitration LL.M. Practicum I, II & III

    The International Arbitration LL.M. Practicum Program allows students to obtain practical experience in the field of international arbitration during their LL.M. studies with law firms and arbitral institutions in Miami and beyond. Practicum placements are for the duration of one semester and usually are offered during the Fall and Spring semesters; in exceptional circumstances placements may also be available in Summer. As part of the practicum program, students also attend a number of on-campus lectures pertinent to international arbitration and transnational litigation.

  • International Commercial Arbitration Seminar: A United States Perspective

    The seminar is a survey of the law and regulation of international commercial arbitration as seen from the perspective of the United States courts. It is divided into four units: Overview of Core Legal Sources; The Agreement to Arbitrate; The Arbitral Process and the Award. In all phases of the course, attention will be given to the interaction of national courts and the arbitral process and the limits of party autonomy and the consequences of its exercise.

  • International Investment Agreements

    The focus of the course is on the evolving role and significance of bilateral and multilateral investment treaties, and, in particular, on the standards of treatment accepted by the host States. The course is recommended for students of international investment law and for students interested in international business transactions and international economic relations.

  • International Law of State Responsibility

    For the international community to consider that it has a system of law, its subjects must somehow be held responsible for breaches of legal obligations. One can hardly claim to advise on any aspect of international law without knowing how breaches of its supposed rules might result in liability on the part of the most relevant actors. For many generations, sovereigns were accountable only to God. In the 20th century, pronouncements of various international tribunals set out rules of liability and reparation in a piecemeal manner. At the dawn of the 21st Century, draft Articles on the Responsibility of States for Internationally Wrongful Acts finally emerged from the UN's International Law Commission, purporting to codify international law. This course will explore where we are today.

  • Investment Arbitration

    Investment arbitration is developing into a distinct specialization as parties increasingly rely on arbitration provision in Foreign Investment legislation, Bilateral Investment Treaties as well as such instruments as the Energy Charter Treaty, the Washington Convention and NAFTA for mechanisms to settle disputes between states and investors. The number of cases has grown exponentially in the past decade and new doctrines are being developed. This course provides an overview of these new concepts as well as examining the specificity of a State as a party to an arbitration.

  • Law of International Treaties

    The contemporary international order is largely based on international treaties, and the understanding of treaties is essential in order to master the study of current international law. This is true in particular for international investment law. The purpose of this course is for students to acquire the basic skills required to comprehend treaties and their application. 

  • Maritime Arbitration

    Maritime arbitration has developed as a distinct specialization and covers a wide range of maritime disputes which are decided primarily under either the rules of the Society of Maritime Arbitrators of New York or the International Center for Dispute Resolution. They are governed by the General Arbitration Act and the New York Convention. The course will provide an overview of many of the key problems that arise in maritime arbitration, including topics such as compelling arbitration; security for the underlying claims and fees; how proceedings are conducted; and enforcement of awards.

  • Transnational Litigation and International Arbitration with a European Nexus

    The United States and the European Union have the largest bilateral trade relationship and enjoy the most integrated economic relationship in the world. This course provides students with an overview on the legal instruments governing transnational litigation and international arbitration proceedings that frequently arise out of these close transatlantic economic ties. This course discusses the European Convention on International Commercial Arbitration, the Brussels and Rome regimes, which govern areas of jurisdiction, recognition and enforcement of foreign judgements, and choice-of-law, as well as various other European legal provisions that are of great importance in the area of transnational litigation and international arbitration.

    *We continue to further develop our international arbitration curriculum. Therefore, course offerings may change in future semesters and all courses may not be offered.

III. International Arbitration LL.M. Practicum 

The White & Case International Arbitration LL.M. Program provides students an opportunity during their LL.M. studies to obtain practical experience in the field of international arbitration with law firms and arbitral institutions in Miami and beyond. Students may hone their specific interests by choosing one of two tracks: the Academic Track or the Experiential Learning Track.

Practicum News

Madina Lokova“My practicum at Shutts & Bowen had a substantial influence on my career path. I am very thankful to my program director and coordinator for this priceless opportunity to get hands-on experience by working in the dispute resolution practice in a law firm in Miami.  I would definitely recommend this practicum to all students who are interested in getting practical experience in international arbitration and dispute resolution during their studies.”

Madina Lokova (Russia)
LL.M. in International Arbitration '17
White & Case/Carolyn Lamm Scholarship Recipient, 2016-17
International Attorney, White & Case, Washington D.C.

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  • Practicum Academic Track Requirements

    Students in the White & Case International Arbitration LL.M. Program who are on the Academic Track are required to complete one supervised, hands-on training experience in a workplace related to international arbitration and dispute resolution as well as the broader international business law field. Students may complete the Practicum Academic Track through either (1) a pre-approved placement in the International Arbitration LL.M. Practicum Program, (2) Miami Law’s Externship Program, or (3) through a placement that a student secured him/herself and that can be converted into a practicum or externship field placement.

    Practicum placements are part-time and range from 1-3 credits (i.e. 45-135 placement hours per semester). Placements are for the duration of one semester and usually are offered during the Fall and Spring semesters; in exceptional circumstances placements may also be available in Summer. As part of the practicum/externship program, students are required to attend a number of on-campus lectures pertinent to international arbitration and transnational litigation. Students participating in the Practicum/Externship programs will be enrolled in the corresponding academic for-credit course (i.e. LL.M. Practicum I, II or III, Externship I, II or III) during the semester of their placement.

    Students on the Academic Track who are unable to secure a practicum or externship placement despite diligent efforts on their part may, in exceptional circumstances, fulfill this requirement by taking additional hands-on lawyering skills courses in the International Arbitration LL.M. Program, which cover various practical aspects of international commercial and investment arbitration proceedings.

  • Practicum Experiential Learning Track Requirements

    Students in the White & Case International Arbitration LL.M. Program who are on the Experiential Learning Track are required to complete two supervised, hands-on training experiences in a workplace related to international arbitration and dispute resolution as well as the broader international business law field. Students may complete the Practicum Experiential Learning track through either (1) a pre-approved placement in the International Arbitration LL.M. Practicum Program, (2) Miami Law’s Externship Program, or (3) through a placement that a student secured him/herself and that can be converted into a practicum or externship field placement.

    Practicum placements are part-time and range from 1-3 credits (i.e. 45-135 placement hours per semester). Placements are for the duration of one semester and usually are offered during the Fall and Spring semesters; in exceptional circumstances placements may also be available in Summer. As part of the Practicum program, students are required to attend a number of on-campus lectures pertinent to international arbitration and transnational litigation. Students participating in the Practicum/Externship programs will be enrolled in the corresponding course (i.e. LL.M. Practicum I, II or III, Externship I, II or III) during the semester of their placement. Only one Practicum/Externship placement is permitted per semester, and students generally may not repeat a placement with the same participating firm/institution in a subsequent semester.

  • Selection Process

    Students must choose a track upon enrollment in the White & Case International Arbitration LL.M. Program. Students may change their selection up until the relevant deadline in their second semester of studies (Feb. 15 for Spring, Oct. 15 for Fall).

  • Meeting Graduation Requirements with the Practicum

    The IA LL.M. Practicum/Externship counts towards the overall number of required credits for the International Arbitration LL.M. degree (24 credits) and also qualifies as International Arbitration elective credit. Moreover, students in the International Arbitration J.D./LL.M. Joint Degree Program may earn Skills credit required for the J.D. degree through the Practicum.

  • CPT Requirement for Students on an F-1 Visa Only

    International students in F-1 visa status are required to obtain authorization for Curricular Practical Training (CPT) from University of Miami's department of International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) prior to engaging in paid or unpaid practical training.

IV.  Required Courses for Foreign-Trained Lawyers International Arbitration LL.M.

Foreign-trained lawyers are required to take two additional courses during their LL.M. studies at Miami Law: Introduction to U.S. Law as well as Legal Communication & Research. These courses provide foreign-trained lawyers with a foundation in American common law doctrine as well as legal writing and research skills.

Introduction to U.S. Law

This course provides an overview of the U.S. legal system and is specifically designed for international law graduates who completed their legal education outside of the U.S.

Legal Communication & Research I & II

For foreign-trained lawyers wishing to sit for the New York Bar Exam, these courses also meet eligibility requirements under Section 520.6 of the Rules of the Court of Appeals for the Admission of Attorneys and Counselors at Law (22 NYCRR 520.6).

Read more about our courses for foreign-trained lawyers here: "Foreign Lawyers Learn Introduction to U.S. Law from Renowned Judge Rosemary Barkett" and "Foreign Lawyers Learn Introduction to U.S. Law from Renowned Alumnus and International Attorney."

V. Courses on International, Foreign Law and ADR 

Miami Law has attractive offerings for U.S. and foreign-trained lawyers wishing to study all aspects of international and foreign law. In addition to arbitration-specific course offerings, students may also choose from a variety of other courses relevant to the practice of international dispute resolution from Miami Law’s vast general course curriculum, consisting of 300+ annual lectures, seminars, workshops, clinics and externships. All courses are open to LL.M. students.

Courses on International, Foreign Law and ADR
  • ADR Design Systems
  • Alternative Dispute Resolution 
  • Comparative Law
  • Conflict of Laws 
  • Contracts & Excuses: A Global Perspective
  • Cross-border Transactions
  • Cross-cultural Collaboration 
  • Cuba: Law, Policy and Transition
  • Dispute Resolution in Latin America (in Spanish)
  • Doing Business in Latin America 
  • Doing Business in Latin America Workshop 
  • International and Comparative Media Law
  • International Anti-Corruption Law and Practice 
  • International Bankruptcy
  • International Business Transactions 
  • International Business Law Seminar 
  • International Criminal Law
  • International Economic Law
  • International Finance
  • International Human Rights 
  • International Intellectual Property
  • International Law 
  • International Moot Court 
  • International Sales 
  • International Tax 
  • Introduction to Jewish Law and the Talmud
  • Introduction to U.S. Litigation for Foreign Lawyers 
  • Investor Rights Clinic 
  • Islamic Legal Systems 
  • Latin American Contracts (in Spanish)
  • Law of the Sea 
  • Litigation Skills 
  • Mediation
  • Mediation Advocacy 
  • Mindfulness & Negotiation
  • Negotiation Skills 
  • The Law and Practice of Sovereign Debt Management
  • UN Negotiations

VI. U.S. Law and Preparatory Bar Courses

Students in the International Arbitration LL.M. Program may also 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, for transfer to the J.D./LL.M. Joint Degree in International Arbitration, and for their future legal practice. All first-year and upper-level U.S. law courses are open to LL.M. students.

Foundational U.S. Law Course Offerings
  • Administrative Law
  • Business Associations
  • Civil Procedure
  • Commercial Law
  • Conflicts of Laws
  • Constitutional Law 
  • Contracts
  • Criminal Procedure
  • Evidence
  • Family Law
  • Professional Responsibility
  • Property
  • Real Estate Transactions
  • Substantive Criminal Law
  • Torts
  • Trusts & Estates

For Foreign-trained lawyers wishing to sit for the New York Bar Exam, these courses also meet eligibility requirements under section 520.6 of the Rules of the Court of Appeals for the Admission of Attorneys and Counselors at Law (22 NYCRR 520.6). 

Miami Law is committed to our students' success on the bar exam. Students may enroll in preparatory bar exam courses, which cover topics tested on the federal and (Florida) state portions of the bi-annual bar exam. This is of particular interest to LL.M. students wishing to sit for a U.S. bar exam, for instance the New York or California bar exams, as the federal portion of the bar exam is the same in all states, except Louisiana. 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 and rules, as well as Bar Coaching (Miami Law graduates work individually with a "bar coach" who will provide personalized guidance throughout the bar study process).

VII. Spanish-language Law Courses 

Moreover, Miami Law is unique in its commitment to bilingual and bicultural education and offers law courses taught in Spanish for bilingual students wishing to improve their knowledge of technical, legal Spanish, as well as introductory and advanced courses on Spanish for Lawyers. These courses are open to LL.M. students with the necessary Spanish language skills. They are intended for students who are fluent in Spanish and who will benefit from the practical use of the language in a legal setting. A placement test might be required.

Spanish-Language Course Offerings

  • Dispute Resolution in Latin America
  • Latin American Contracts
  • Spanish for Lawyers I (Beginner's Level)
  • Spanish for Lawyers II (Advanced Level)

In addition, LL.M. students may hone their Spanish-language lawyering skills in international arbitration moot competitions in Spanish through Miami Law's International Moot Court Program

Lastly, students may enroll in non-legal Spanish language courses at the University of Miami in parallel to their LL.M. studies. Non-law courses do not count towards the LL.M. graduation requirements.

VIII. Other Relevant and Cutting-edge Courses

Miami Law's vast curriculum offers a number of cutting-edge law courses on current issues, including artificial intelligence and new technologies, digital currencies, social media and climate change:

  • AI and Robot Law
  • Blockchain Technology and Business Strategies 
  • Climate Change and Human Rights
  • Climate Change Law and Policies 
  • Climate Finance
  • Conservation, Tourism and Development
  • COVID-19: Lawyering in a Pandemic
  • Craft Alcohol Beverage and Cannabis: Regulatory and Transactional Considerations for Industry and Investors
  • Digital Currency and Blockchain Regulation 
  • Electronic Discovery
  • Fake News: Media Law in the Age of Trump 
  • Fashion Law
  • Law Without Walls and LWOWX 
  • Mindfulness in Law 
  • Natural Resources
  • Programming for Lawyers 
  • Social Media and the Law 
  • Space Law: Regulating and Incentivizing Private Commercial Activities in Outer Space 
  • Video Game Law
  • Vimeo, Twitter and YouTube: Online Liability and Net Neutrality 

For a full listing of upcoming courses, visit Miami Law's course catalogue on CourseLink. Not all courses are offered every year.

IX. Academic Achievement Program (AAP)

Throughout their studies, students are encouraged to take advantage of Miami Law's Academic Achievement Program (AAP), which helps students develop their analytical and examination skills for law school success. The program offers weekly Dean's Fellow study groups for all first-year law courses and Introduction to U.S. Law for foreign-trained lawyers; individual Writing Dean's Fellow support for upper-level writing courses as well as cover letters, resumes, writing samples, etc.; and regular workshops on law school achievement, exam taking skills and bar exam preparation.

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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.