Bazil Cunningham

Bazil began his academic training at Pepperdine University, where he earned a BA in international studies. In college, he received the George Pepperdine Achievement Scholarship, the Blanche E. Seaver Faculty-Staff Scholarship, and the Computer Assistance in Legal Instruction (CALI) Center for Legal Instruction Award. Before law school, Bazil earned the Seaver Undergraduate Certificate in Conflict Resolution and was a Pepperdine D.C. Program Summer Scholar, where he earned a full-tuition scholarship to investigate the role of religion in public policy.

During law school, Bazil served as an Editor for the Pepperdine Dispute Resolution Law Journal. He co-drafted a law school casebook on schoolhouse constitutional rights, engaging deeply with constitutional law as it applies within educational settings. The significance of this work was further underscored when the Faculty Research Lead presented the casebook at the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge, placing Bazil’s contributions within an esteemed international academic arena. Brazil was awarded the Faculty Scholar Personal Achievement and Merit Scholarship for all three years of law school. 

Bazil has authored and contributed to scholarly research spanning negotiation theory, international management, and the evolving intersection of artificial intelligence and the rule of law. His publications explore topics such as Cold War diplomacy, cross-cultural leadership dynamics, and the legal implications of sentient AI, demonstrating analytical depth and a forward-thinking perspective on global legal systems. His work has been published in Global Tides, the Journal of Robotics, Artificial Intelligence & the Law, and the Indonesian Journal of International and Comparative Law.

Bazil served as a teaching and research assistant across a wide range of disciplines, from Chinese language to constitutional law to international management theory, at Pepperdine Seaver College and Pepperdine Caruso School of Law. With four years of research mentorship experience, he has been a Lead Author on numerous research projects. He has experience guiding students through research topics spanning criminology, history, human rights, international relations, and legal studies. 

With a unique combination of academic distinction, scholarly contributions, and interdisciplinary training, Bazil brings a thoughtful, globally informed perspective to the legal profession. His work is driven by a commitment to navigating complex disputes, advancing innovative legal frameworks, and contributing to critical conversations at the intersection of law, technology, and international affairs. He is excited to mentor and guide students and brings kindness, competence, and humor to all interactions.

A fun fact about Bazil is that he graduated from Pepperdine Caruso School of Law as the first student to do so without taking the LSAT. Growing up, one of his tennis coaches was a professional tennis player on tour who beat Roger Federer.