MA/MS in Mediation LL.M.

General Description: Objective(s) of a study programme: The aim of the program is to prepare lawyers-experts in mediation with an international qualification LL.M. degree, who will be able to solve various types of national and private international disputes by way of an advanced alternative to the classical judicial process - mediation. These specialists will also gain extensive and systematic knowledge of other ways of resolving disputes and their applicability, will be able to advise the parties to the dispute on the most appropriate way to resolve a particular dispute. Upon completion of this program, students will have the necessary knowledge and practical skills to carry out the mediation procedure professionally and / or to properly represent their clients in mediation. Learning outcomes: 1. Is able to understand the methods of dispute resolution and their applicability, as a result of it - is able to advise the parties to the dispute regarding the choice of the most appropriate way of resolution for the particular dispute and professionally conduct the mediation procedure and / or properly represent their clients involved in mediation. 2. Is able to analyze complex phenomena of intercultural social life – private international disputes, their legal environment, and draw conclusions necessary for their decision by the most appropriate means, taking into account the peculiarities of the particular dispute and its participants, also norms of private international law. 3. Is able to provide professional mediation services on a stand-alone basis or in a team, and to properly prepare the documents needed to initiate, execute and complete this procedure. 4. Is able to organize and carry out the mediation process using modern information technologies. 5. Is able to apply optimal methods of counseling individuals to encourage and enable conflict analysis, interpret, solve problems, think critically, monitor, evaluate and analyze facts, and draw conclusions that enable peaceful resolution of disputes. 6. Is able to provide high-quality independent dispute resolution expert services and, using the knowledge of alternative dispute resolution, independently start, develop, manage legal counseling and dispute resolution business, generate new ideas in a multicultural environment, adopt socially responsible and ethical decisions. Activities of teaching and learning: Teaching and learning activities are student-centered. Basically, they could be divided into the following groups: activities (1) for acquiring academic students' knowledge (including academic lectures and student self-work, etc.); (2) developing student collaboration skills in the social environment (mainly based on group work); to gain, (4) students 'independent problem solving skills development (teaching activity based on problem solving during practical classes and self-work), (5) students' critical thinking (based on student insights) and (6) reflection - emphasis is placed on teacher and student feedback support . Methods of assessment of learning achievements: Frontal verbal interview; individual verbal interview; tests, colloquiums; case studies (written or oral) (individual or group projects); method of mind and concept mapping; presentation (report, essay); written survey method. Framework: Study subjects (modules), practical training: The total volume of the study program is 60 credits. All subjects in the program are from the main field of study. All subjects included in the program are in-depth. Each program course provides knowledge in the relevant field of mediation. After student gains special knowledge out of basic subjects - Alternative Dispute Resolution, Mediation Theory and Practice, Negotiations in Legal Disputes, Restorative Justice, Conflict Management, Family Mediation, Evaluation and Characterization of Dispute Parties in Mediation, Peculiarities of International Dispute Resolution, E-Mediation and Mediation peculiarities of application in different disputes, - he will be able to fully meet current labor market needs in relation to diverting legal disputes by means of peaceful, out-of-court dispute resolution, in particular mediation. 5 subjects are studied every semester. Specialisations: - Optional courses: Students have the right to study according to an individual plan, to complete their studies in shorter time. Students have the right to choose from optional subjects: E-mediation or Peculiarities of mediation in different disputes. Distinctive features of a study programme: 1) The programme is not oriented to the solution of national disputes by mediation in Lithuania, but to the solution of private international disputes, therefore the content of all subjects to be taught is also oriented to the specific category of disputes with the international element and the peculiarities of working with such subjects. 2) The programme is planned to be tought only in English in such way strengthening the knowledge of the students' foreign language necessary for consulting subjects of private international disputes. 3) The programme is of a shorter duration than usual master degree programms (1 year) and does not require the preparation of a master's thesis, also is more oriented towards the development of practical rather than scientific skills. Access to professional activity or further study: Access to professional activity: We expect to accept to the Mediation LL.M. programme foreign and Lithuanian students, who intend to become dispute settlement specialists, representatives (councell) to the parties to the dispute, negotiators, mediators or conciliators in the future. It is likely that a large part of LL.M. graduates will be interested in providing mediation services, the other - using their acquired competencies in mediation assisting the parties involved in the dispute as consultants, others - will become professional dispute resolution specialists capable of identifying the most appropriate way of solving the problem according to the characteristics of the particular dispute and its parties.