24255 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA 90263, USA
Phone: 310.506.4655 | Website: law.pepperdine.edu/straus
Introduction
Pepperdine University is an independent, medium-sized university enrolling approximately 7,700 students in five colleges and schools including Seaver College, the School of Law, the Graduate School of Education and Psychology, the Graziadio School of Business and Management, and the School of Public Policy. Courses are taught in Malibu, at four graduate campuses in Southern California, permanent program facilities in Washington DC, and at international campuses in Germany, England, Italy, Switzerland, Argentina, and China.
The School of Law was founded in 1964 as Orange University College of Law, prior to being acquired by Pepperdine in 1969. In 1975, Pepperdine University School of Law received full approval from the American Bar Association (ABA) and the California State Bar accreditation. Originally located in Santa Ana, the School of Law moved to the beautiful Malibu campus in 1978.
In 1986, Pepperdine established the first dispute resolution program in the southwest through the creation of the Institute for Dispute Resolution, and renamed the Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution in 1997 after Thrifty Corporation chairman, Leonard H. Straus and his wife, Dorothy Straus.
Location
Pepperdine is located in the beautiful hills of Malibu on an 830-acre campus overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The university is also close to Los Angeles, one of the most vibrant dispute resolution environments in the world with the national headquarters and founding location for JAMS, more than 30,000 cases referred to by the Los Angeles Superior Court mediation panel, and the location of more than 13 nonprofit community mediation centers.
Southern California boasts beautiful weather year round with quick access to beaches, mountains, and deserts. While the magnificent vista provides a beautiful setting for study and contemplation, Pepperdine is only 12 miles from the energy and night life of Santa Monica and 25 miles from downtown Los Angeles.
Law School Enrollment
- JD students: 630
- LLM students: 70
- MDR students: 88
- Certificate students: 232
Faculty
The School of Law faculty comprises some of the finest lawyers and scholars in the nation. Faculty members serve as teachers, scholars, mentors, counselors, and community leaders. Pepperdine's faculty is deeply committed to students and has received national recognition for accessibility. Pepperdine's strong record of scholarship is demonstrated in over 180 law review articles and 100 publications published in the past seven years.
Reputation
Pepperdine University's dispute resolution program has received national recognitions, including:
- Association for Conflict Resolution's The Peacemaker Award (2011)
- California Dispute Resolution Council's Outstanding Contribution to the Profession of ADR Neutral's Award (2006)
- 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ADR in Education Award (2006)
- International Academy of Mediator's Excellence in Education Award (2004)
- Los Angeles County Bar's Dispute Resolution Services' Special Public Service Award (2002)
- The American College of Civil Trial Mediators' Education and Training Award (2000)
LLM Program Information
The LLM in Dispute Resolution is a 28-unit program covering topics in negotiation, mediation, and arbitration. Students can pursue the LLM program on a part-time or full-time basis with courses offered in one-week, two-week, two-weekend, and the traditional fifteen-week format. Students in the LLM in Dispute Resolution program have the option to declare a concentration in mediation, arbitration, international dispute resolution, or litigation.
Courses are offered at the main campus in Malibu as well as the campus in Irvine, across the street from the John Wayne Airport.
LLM in Dispute Resolution Formatted for European Lawyers and Judges
Law professionals can now participate in Pepperdine's renowned dispute resolution program without leaving their busy practice. Those who cannot dedicate a year to the traditional LLM program can participate in a pilot program with weekend courses in London as well as intensive courses in Los Angeles, California. In California, participants will mediate 20 cases in the courts, observe commercial private sector mediations, and tour the largest court-annexed mediation program in the world. Participants will learn from top faculty and practitioners in dispute resolution and study among attorneys, judges, and other professionals from the United States and across the globe.
The program will be limited to 15 students. Courses will start in January 2013 and conclude in January 2014.
Campus Facilities
Pepperdine offers seven libraries across Southern California, including the School of Law's Jerene Appleby Harnish Law Library which offers 40,000 square feet of space with ocean and mountain views and a collection of over 400,000 titles. In 2007, Pepperdine became host to the largest collection of conflict resolution materials with over 23,000 titles on arbitration, mediation, negotiation, fact-finding, and other international and domestic dispute resolution procedures.
In addition to academic facilities, Pepperdine University offers a number of recreational facilities including a state of the art, Olympic-sized running track, nine-court tennis facility, and top of the line swimming complex which was used in the 1984 Olympic water polo competition.
Housing
Students studying at Pepperdine have numerous housing opportunities including on-campus and off-campus options. On campus, law students stay across the street at the George Page Residential Complex. Built in 1996, Page offers a common recreation room, outdoor barbecues, and adjacent parking. Students have their own bedroom in a four-bedroom apartment with a shared living room, kitchen, and bathroom. Students choosing to live off campus have a variety of options available in the surrounding areas of Calabasas, Santa Monica, Woodland Hills, Westlake Village, Agoura Hills, and Thousand Oaks.
Students Facilities, Organizations, and Cultural Activities
Students can get involved with a number of campus clubs and organizations. For those looking to publish their research, Pepperdine University School of Law also hosts the Pepperdine Law Review, Pepperdine Dispute Resolution Law Journal, Journal of the National Association of Administrative Law Judiciary, and the Journal of Business, Entrepreneurship and the Law. LLM students also can be selected to represent Pepperdine at an annual international commercial arbitration moot court competition.
In addition to academic opportunities, students can participate in various intramural sports teams including dodgeball, flag football, volleyball, tennis, basketball, soccer, and beach volleyball.
Additionally, just a short drive away, Los Angeles offers an abundance of cultural, art, and entertainment activities.
Career Services
Students in the LLM in Dispute Resolution will gain mediation experience through the requisite Mediation Clinic handling small claims, limited jurisdiction, and TRO cases in Los Angeles Superior Court. Students will also have the option to work with a dispute resolution organization in the field through the externship program.
The School of Law's Career Development Office serves as a resource to students by providing career workshops, on-campus interviews, and job listings.
Contact Information
For additional information, please visit the Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution website, or contact:
Sarah Gonzales
Assistant Director
Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution
24255 Pacific Coast Highway
Malibu, CA 90263
USA
Phone: 310.506.4655
E-mail: dracademics@pepperdine.edu
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