Public International Law

Today issues of Public International Law (PIL) are at the forefront of public debates to a greater degree than ever before. International law provides the technical and intellectual underpinnings to large areas of international conflict and co-operation, including:

  1. the legality of the use of force by States;
  2. the settlement of international disputes before international courts and tribunals;
  3. environmental protection (e.g. addressing the current climate emergency);
  4. the scope of human rights protection;
  5. the protection of refugees and other vulnerable groups;
  6. the attempt through international law and institutions to promote global trade; and
  7. the resolution of jurisdictional conflicts arising from the regulation by States especially of actors and activities beyond their borders.

PIL not only impacts and shapes decisions by States but also penetrates today into the national legal order – often through national court decisions – to affect individuals and corporations to an important extent. These developments have led to the growth of lawyers and law firms who specialise in the practice of PIL. This is in addition to the demand for lawyers in governments, inter-governmental organizations and non-governmental organizations. For those who do not intend to follow a career in international law, the course provides a broad sweep of issues which illuminate not merely questions of international law but the problems and processes of the world of diplomacy. It also allows them to understand how international legal obligations are reflected in domestic law and decisions as to regulation of almost all areas of life, from family to commercial to public law.

This course covers the major areas of general international law, incorporates a variety of perspectives (e.g. feminism and Third World Approaches to International Law (TWAIL)), and is not over-specialised. The lectures and tutorials cover the nature and sources of international law, the law of treaties, international legal personality, jurisdiction and immunities, State responsibility, the use of force, and procedures for peaceful settlement of disputes. The consideration of these subject areas takes place within their broader policy context and with regard to recent developments.

NB The Jessup Moot PIL Option may only be taken by candidates already selected for the Law Faculty’s team participating in the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot competition.