The University of Miami School of Law’s White & Case International Arbitration LL.M. Program and the International Association of Young Lawyers (AIJA) have entered into an exciting collaboration. With a diverse membership of 4,000+ active members from 90+ different countries, AIJA is the premier organization worldwide devoted to providing young lawyers with outstanding international opportunities to network, learn and develop.
Sandra Friedrich, Director and faculty member of the Miami Law LL.M., pronounced, “We are proud to be launching this collaboration with AIJA, the only truly global organization devoted to young lawyers. We believe that this collaboration will benefit not only AIJA members, but also our Miami Law community by bringing talented young professionals interested in specializing in international arbitration to Miami for their graduate studies.“
Scholarship* for AIJA Member
AIJA members who are considering focusing on the field of international arbitration through specialized LL.M. studies will be automatically considered for an exclusive half-tuition scholarship* offering (currently $26,500) towards an LL.M. in International Arbitration at the University of Miami School of Law. Moreover, when applying through Miami Law’s Online Application System, all AIJA members will receive an automatic application fee waiver (currently $50).
Eduardo de la Peña of Reed Smith, the President of AIJA’s International Arbitration Commission who was the brainchild along with Friedrich of this opportunity, considers, “The scholarship awarded by Miami Law’s International Arbitration LL.M. to AIJA members is a momentous opportunity that without doubt will advance significantly the career of its recipients.”
Genesis of Collaboration
Eduardo de la Peña is an alumnus, J.D. ’08, who started in Miami Law’s LL.M. in U.S. and Transnational Law program before transferring and graduating from the J.D. program.
Regarding the partnership, de la Peña commented, “AIJA’s International Arbitration Commission welcomes the opportunity to continue is mission by the initiation of this collaboration with the University of Miami School of Law’s International Arbitration LL.M. program, one of the most prestigious and highly ranked programs worldwide in the field of international arbitration and alternative dispute resolution.”
Sandra Friedrich agrees “We believe [AIJA members] will enrich our program experience and we look forward to helping these young professionals to acquire an in-depth grounding in the field of international arbitration as a platform for a successful career.“
Benefits to Miami Law Students and Community
Miami Law students will benefit from a relationship with an entity as global as AIJA, something de la Peña supports, “AIJA hosts every year more than 20 congresses, conferences, and seminars around the globe dealing with the latest legal trends, including several events specialized in international arbitration organized by its International Arbitration Commission.”
The Miami Law community at large will also gain from this collaboration as well, as it increases the diversity of the student body, with AIJA being a global organization with members around the world. “By expanding the reach of our program and thus the reach of our alumni network, all graduates as well as current and prospective Miami Law students benefit,” says Friedrich. In addition, current Miami Law LL.M. students may benefit from a reduced registration rate to attend the academic part of AIJA’s Half-year Conference in Miami.
Formal Announcement of Collaboration and Scholarship
There will be a formal announcement of the AIJA Scholarship at the AIJA Miami Conference in October. The AIJA Half-Year October Conference will be held in Miami from October 30-November 2, 2019, for which Miami Law is a Platinum Sponsor. In addition, Sandra Friedrich, Director of the LL.M. in International Arbitration, will be speaking on a panel on the importance of legal specialization among international practitioners in Track #2, “Cross-border disputes 2020: What to expect in the coming decade.”
*Applicants must complete their application to the White & Case International Arbitration LL.M. program offered at the University of Miami School of Law by February 15 to be considered for this scholarship. The scholarship will be awarded to one outstanding AIJA Member applicant based on an assessment of achievements and skills.
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