The past decades have seen a radical increase in international dispute settlement procedures, especially in the fields of international commerce, investment and the protection of the environment. International courts, international arbitration and mediation mechanisms are increasingly taking center-stage in the international legal arena. Positions in the corresponding departments of major law firms and in international dispute settlement institutions consequently have become among the most sought-after jobs in the field of law. More recently, the increasingly competitive job market has been calling for new and more flexible educational and networking options which give anyone the possibility to access a prestigious degree without disrupting their professional and personal life.

To succeed, candidates for these positions must distinguish themselves, which is exactly where the MIDS makes a difference. Its uniqueness comes from its outstanding faculty and curriculum and its innovative and flexible educational methodology. 


Faculty

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Increasingly, dispute settlement mechanisms overlap, conflict, and influence each other. The times when specialization in one field was sufficient are gone. Leaders in the field just now have a solid understanding of all the major international dispute settlement tools worldwide.

With its unique faculty members, the MIDS caters to these needs and offer students a unique opportunity to learn from world class professors and practitioners.


A carefully designed curriculum

The MIDS curriculum is designed to meet the educational needs that arise from this evolution. It teaches about dispute settlement from a holistic perspective and covers all its aspects, both private and public. It is global in terms of format and faculty. The professors are some of the most prominent experts in each field of international dispute settlement and come from the USA, South America, Asia, Africa and throughout Europe. Its structure combines the multicultural approach to legal studies in Continental Europe with the interactive teaching method of the United States and the small-group tutorial system of Oxford and Cambridge. Class size is kept relatively small to ensure maximum interaction between faculty and students.


Geneva and the MIDS community

The MIDS is a Geneva-based program. This is where its headquarters are located and its on campus classes take place. Its curriculum fully takes advantage of the fact that Geneva is home to over 200 international organizations and UN agencies, such as the WTO, WIPO, or UNCTAD, and many leading arbitration law firms.

While this proximity is always important in person, it is even more important online. The MIDS has developed an important network of contacts with the professional world. This network is made of the leading professionals teaching in the program, the MIDS Alumni, the donors and the practitioners met at career events, conferences, and during visits to international dispute resolution institutions such as the WTO Appellate Body in Geneva, the ICJ and the PCA in The Hague; and the ICC in Paris.

MIDS students, be they in Geneva or abroad, benefit from a privileged access to this network. This both enriches the classroom experience and provides opportunities for developing worldwide professional contacts and friendships.

MIDS students are expected to become active members of this MIDS Community during and after the program, throughout their professional career.


MIDS Career Services

Of critical importance to the MIDS is the guiding and assisting its students with their career plans and objectives for the future. MIDS Career Services play a central role and are available to the students throughout the program.

The success of the MIDS program and of its Career Services is demonstrated by the number of MIDS Alumni spread all over the world holding positions in top law firms, international organizations, arbitral institutions, justice and trade ministries of national governments, companies, international law departments at universities, or as members of the judiciary.

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