LLM Dispute Prevention and Resolution: University of Westminster

Introduction

The word 'dispute' tends to be associated with the practice of law. Lawyers are often perceived as being concerned with adversarial confrontation in the resolution of disputes.

This course embraces a wide range of public, private and domestic issues relevant to the prevention and resolution of conflicts and disputes, including justice and risk. The course includes the study of negotiation, litigation and arbitration, and also the alternative dispute resolution (ADR) processes such as mediation and conciliation.

This course is designed to benefit a wide range of individuals including graduates progressing towards acceptance on a PhD programme, practising lawyers wanting to further their knowledge and skills, as well as other graduates and practitioners - such as mediators, civil servants, insurers; and anyone managing people and risks. The course is ideal for those with a gap year between career stages, and for students from the EU and other countries who want to improve their English for personal and career purposes.

Course Content

The course provides an opportunity for in-depth study of the issues and the practices involved in the field, including study of the theories and mechanisms of prevention, emergence, avoidance and resolution. The course is relevant to UK, European and international students. It combines academic and practical approaches to teaching and learning. Classes are usually small in size allowing for an interactive approach to learning. Dissertation students will be assigned a supervisor who will provide appropriate guidance.

Core modules:

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

Options, choose from:

• Commercial Conflict of Laws (private international law)
• Conflict Resolution: Negotiation
• Conflict, Risk and Regulation
• International Commercial Arbitration
• International Commercial Mediation
• Women and International Human Rights

Associated Careers

This course is designed to benefit a wide range of individuals including: graduates progressing towards acceptance on a PhD programme; practising lawyers wanting to further their knowledge and skills; other graduates and practitioners – such as mediators, civil servants, insurers, and anyone managing people and risks. The course is ideal for students with a gap year between career stages, and for students from the European Union and other countries who want to improve their English for personal and career purposes.

Entry Requirements

• The main criterion for admission will be the capacity to complete the course successfully.
• Applicants will usually qualify to join the course with a good honours degree in law, but a good honours degree in any discipline will usually qualify an applicant to join the course where there is evidence of some academic or professional study of the law.
• Applicants who do not comply with the above requirements, including mature applicants who do not have standard qualifications, will be given careful consideration.
• You must have a good standard of English. The minimum is IELTS 6.5 in each element (or equivalent test). It is advisable, but not essential to achieve 7.0 in both listening and in writing.

For further information please contact:

• Course leader: Richard Earle
• Tel: +44 (0 )20 7911 5000 ext 2534
• Fax: +44 (0 )20 7911 5821
• Email: r.earle@wmin.ac.uk