Dispute Resolution and Advocacy

The LL.M. in Dispute Resolution Processes and Advocacy offers the opportunity for domestic and international lawyers to enhance their skills and to develop their proficiencies in the fast-growing fields of advocacy and alternative dispute resolution. Through the Kukin Program for Conflict Resolution (ranked sixth in the nation and first in New York City by U.S. News and World Report) and the wide variety of practical litigation skills training courses that distinguish a Cardozo education from others, our LL.M. program offers a unique combination of practical and theoretical training to help students develop an understanding and vision of the role of the lawyer as a counselor, problem-solver and advocate.

• A minimum of 24 credits overall
• A minimum of 14 credits of coursework in dispute resolution and advocacy
• Completion of a paper focusing on a topic in conflict resolution developed in a course or through independent study
• Participation in an experiential requirement (externship, clinical or practical program) related to conflict resolution
• Graduates of foreign law schools must take Introduction to U.S. Law and two semesters of the advanced workshop in legal research and writing.

Courses

Arbitration

•   Domestic Commercial Arbitration (2) 
•   International Commercial Arbitration (2)
•   International Arbitration Practicum (1)

Processes

•   Dispute Resolution Processes (2)
•   International Dispute Resolution (2)

Mediation

•   Divorce Mediation (3)
•   Divorce Mediation Clinic (2)
•   Mediation & Other Methods of Fostering Democratic 
•   Dialogue (Budapest) (3)
•   Representation in Mediation (2)

Interviewing and Counseling

•   Interviewing and Counseling (1) 

Negotiation

•   Negotiation Theory and Skills (2) 

Trial advocacy/practice

• Appellate Advocacy (2)
• Complex Civil Litigation (2)
• Conflict of Laws (3)
• Ethics in Criminal Advocacy (2)
• Ethics in Litigation (2)
• Ethics for Social Justice Lawyers
• Evidence (4)
• Evidence, Advanced (2)
• Fact Investigation (3)
• Federal Courts (3)
• Intensive Trial Advocacy Program (ITAP) (3)
• Mass Litigation and Settlement (3)
• New York Practice (2 or 3)
• Patent Litigation (3)
• Pretrial Practice (2)
• Professional Responsibility (3)
• Remedies (2)
• Trial Advocacy, Advanced (2)

• You must hold a first degree in law (JD, LLB, or an equivalent degree) from a foreign law faculty.
• If you do NOT hold a first degree in law, you must be licensed to practice in your home country or have passed the national bar exam, and have significant professional experience.
• You must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university or its equivalent and a first degree in law from an ABA-approved law school.
• Application.  

You are strongly encouraged to submit the LLM application electronically (including the application form, application fee, resume, personal statement, letters of recommendation, and transcripts) using the LSAC LLM Credential Assembly Service (LLM CAS).  Paper materials and updates will require additional processing by our staff and will delay the review of your application by the Admissions Committee.
• $50 Application fee. If you are applying through LSAC LLM CAS, you will submit your fee online by credit card when you complete your online application. 
• Resume/curriculum vitae.  

Information should be current to the date of application. 
• Personal statement.  

Limited to two (2) typed, double-spaced pages.  The statement should describe your reasons for pursuing an LLM degree and include any information you believe would be helpful to the Admissions Committee in making its decision. 
• Two letters of recommendation. 

Letters may be written by law school professors, and employers or colleagues whose supervisory positions permit informed evaluations of your qualifications. Letters should be submitted through the LLM CAS.  Hard copies with original signatures may be sent directly to the Office of Admissions if you do not register with LLM CAS.  Xeroxed or scanned letters, unsigned letters, or emailed recommendations will not be accepted.
• Official transcript of law degree and any other degrees earned from any college, university, graduate school, or professional school.  

The transcript should be an official record from the academic institution, clearly indicating the dates of attendance, the courses taken, the grades received, and the degree conferred.  Transcripts should be submitted through the LLM CAS.
• Official transcript of coursework (one semester or more) completed at any college, university, graduate school, or professional school. 

The transcript should be an official record from the academic institution, clearly indicating the dates of attendance, the courses taken, and the grades received.
• Credential evaluation.  

International applicants are strongly encouraged to use the LLM CAS International Transcript Authentication and Evaluation Service.  Evaluations provide the Admissions Committee with your US grade equivalency and facilitate the review process.  
• TOEFL: 100
• IELTS: 7.0 Overall Band Score

Scholarships

• The Dean's Merit Scholarship (for international and domestic LLMs)   
• The Distinguished LL.M. Scholar Award (for international and domestic LLMs)   
• The Milgat Uriel & Caroline Bauer LL.M. Scholarship 
• The Cardozo LL.M. Scholarship for Dispute Resolution and Advocacy (for international and domestic LLMs)