Introduction
Course summary
The course is intended for anyone wishing to demonstrate a commitment to contentious law in public and private international and commercial legal contexts. The taught part of the programme includes modules which reflect the three main forms of the dispute resolution process, namely adjudication (litigation and arbitration), alternative dispute resolution (ADR – principally mediation), and negotiation.
This course differs from the International Commercial Law LLM course which is primarily concerned with non-contentious aspects of commerce (modules include competition law, trade, and insurance).
Class sizes are, in general, quite small, and you will be able to mix with students on other Masters courses at Westminster Law School.
Course structure
The following modules are indicative of what you will study in this course.
Other approved modules such as International Commercial Litigation and Private International Law might be made available depending on demand and the Head of Westminster Law School’s approval.
Core modules
Perspectives on Peace, Conflicts and Disputes
Postgraduate Research and Dissertation
Option modules
Comparative Commercial Arbitration: Law and Practice
Comparative Law
Foreign Direct Investment Arbitration
International and Transnational Dispute Processes
International Commercial Arbitration
Mediation: Concepts, Evolution and Practice
Multinational Corporate Entities and Foreign Investment
Negotiation: Theory, Disputes, Contexts, Practice
Peace Processes and Law
Peaceful Settlement of International Disputes
Restorative Justice: Cultures, Integration and Law
Entry Requirements
You should have a good Honours degree in Law or any non-Law subject from a UK university, or the equivalent from a non-UK university, and satisfactory references.
Other qualifications or experiential routes can sometimes be agreed.
If your first language is not English, you will need an IELTS score of 6.5 overall, with 6.0 in each component, or equivalent.
Careers
Career path
This course is designed to benefit a wide range of individuals, including graduates progressing towards PhD programmes; practising lawyers; other practitioners such as arbitrators, civil servants, diplomats, insurers, journalists, judges, linguists and mediators; 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.
Career development centre
Our Career Development Centre has just been shortlisted for the Best University Careers Service in the National Undergraduate Employability Awards for 2017.
With a growing network of over 3,000 employers around the world and a team of experienced careers consultants, we are here to help you succeed.
In 2015–16, we helped over 1,500 students find work placements across a range of sectors, with 250 employers attending 14 on-campus skills and careers fairs.
As a Westminster student, you’ll have access to our services throughout your studies and after you graduate.
We can help you:
find work placements related to your course,
find part-time/vacation, placement and graduate jobs, including voluntary experience,
find international opportunities to enhance your employability,
market yourself effectively to employers,
write better CVs and application forms,
develop your interview and enterprise skills,
plan your career with our careers consultants,
meet employers and explore your career options at our employer fairs, careers presentations and networking events throughout the year.