Train the Next Generation

The Sudreau Global Justice Institute was founded in 2009 out of the conviction of two Pepperdine law students.

Today, we remain housed within Pepperdine Caruso School of Law, and our work reflects the school’s commitment to academic excellence and the formation of lawyers who are both highly skilled and grounded in Christian values. Caruso Law prepares students to practice at the highest level while cultivating a deeper sense of purpose in the work of law.

The Institute offers students a distinctive bridge between rigorous legal education and real-world efforts. As part of the law school community, we continue to be shaped by its vision and are grateful for its ongoing support.

Students at Pepperdine Caruso School of Law can take exceptional courses through the Sudreau Global Justice Institute focused on human trafficking, human rights, and the rule of law.

Several of these courses are taught by leaders in the fight against modern slavery, including Gary Haugen, founder of International Justice Mission, and former Ambassador for Combating Human Trafficking, John Cotton Richmond. These classes combine strong legal foundations with insight drawn from real-world experience.

Students engage complex questions around injustice, accountability, and legal strategy, developing both a deeper understanding of the law and a clearer sense of how it impacts those around the world.

Global Summer Internships

Spend nine weeks living abroad and working inside national court systems in countries like Uganda, Rwanda, Ghana, Zambia, and Malawi. Students also clerk for judges at the highest levels of leadership. This extraordinary opportunity involves both meaningful contribution to these judges' work and a once-in-a-lifetime learning experience.

Midway through the summer, everyone comes together for a one-week Prison Project, working with legal teams to review active cases and support plea bargaining efforts.

It’s a unique opportunity. It’s meaningful work. And it's an experience you will not forget.

Spring Break Prison Project

For 2L and 3L students seeking a high-impact global experience within a single week, the Spring Break Prison Project offers a unique opportunity. Students travel to Uganda or another partner nation by invitation and spend their spring break working inside prisons to provide legal support to accused persons on pretrial detention. It is an immersive, fast-paced week where legal training meets real-world application.

Students return home with sharpened skills, renewed perspective, and greater confidence in their capacity for servant leadership in a legal setting.