International and Commercial Dispute Resolution: University of Westminster

Introduction

The course is designed for the personal development of lawyers and non-lawyers who are concerned about the origins of public and private international conflicts and disputes; the causes of cross-border and municipal commercial conflicts and disputes; and how they might be prevented, or managed, or transformed and resolved. The course is for international lawyers and commercial lawyers and for non-lawyers with many other ambitions.

This course takes a broad approach to the study of disorder, order and justice in both the public and private spheres of international commerce. A primary focus is placed on the laws, customs, rules and practices relevant to actual and potential Conflicts and disputes. The course takes theoretical, practical, academic and professional approaches to the issues, processes and skills in the field, including containment, management, negotiation, commercial processes, systems and institutions.

The course is designed to benefit a wide range of individuals including:

• graduates progressing towards PhD programmes
• practising lawyers
• and other graduates and practitioners such as arbitrators, mediators, insurers, diplomats, civil servants, and commercial directors and managers.

The course is ideal for anyone with a gap year between career stages, and for anyone from the EU and other countries wanting to improve their English for career purposes.

Course Aims

The course aim to provides an opportunity for in-depth study of the procedural and substantive issues involved in the field. It is centrally concerned with law and other rules of international and commercial conduct within the context of prevention and resolution of Conflicts and disputes, including the relevance of democracy, regulation and governance. The course is relevant to UK, EU and international students. The course combines academic and practical approaches to teaching and learning. Classes are usually small in size allowing for an interactive approach to learning.

Course Content

Core modules:

• Dissertation (triple module)
• Perspectives on Conflicts and Disputes
• Research Theory and Practice

Option modules:

• Commercial Conflict of Laws (private international law)
• Conflict Resolution: Negotiation o International Commercial Arbitration
• International Commercial Mediation
• International Corporate Law and Governance
• International Tax Law
• Multinational Corporate Entities
• Peaceful Settlements of Disputes
• Peaceful Settlements of International DisputesPublic International Law

Associated Careers

The course is designed to benefit a wide range of individuals including: graduates progressing towards PhD programmes; practising lawyers; other graduates and practitioners such as arbitrators, mediators, insurers, diplomats, civil servants, and commercial directors and managers. The course is ideal for anyone with a gap year between career stages, and for anyone from the European Union and other countries wanting to improve their English for career purposes.

Entry Requirements

• Applicants with a good honours degree in law or any other discipline (including science, international relations, international politics, languages and business management) and with good references will normally be eligible for a place.
• Applicants without a degree, or without a good honours degree, but who have a recognised legal qualification will normally be eligible for a place, subject to appropriate references.
• Applicants without standard qualifications will be given serious consideration, but will have to provide substantial evidence of their suitability.
• A good standard of English is essential: it is advisable to have a score of at least 7.0 in the listening and writing elements of the IELTS test and 6.5 in the other two elements. The minimum is 6.5 in each element of the IELTS (or equivalent in a comparable test).