Oxford Global Justice Internship report - Isabelle Xavier, UN Office of Legal Affairs in New York

The Oxford Global Justice Internship Programme enabled me to spend three months (July - September 2015) working in the Codification Division of the UN Office of Legal Affairs in New York. Responsible for the codification, progressive development and promotion of international law, the work of the Codification Division is diverse, ranging from contributing to the Repertory of Practice of United Nations Organs to publishing educational materials in the United Nations Audiovisual Library of International Law.

During my time with the Codification Division, I primarily worked on a Secretariat study on the identification of customary international law, requested by the International Law Commission. The study aims to develop a practical guide to the use of ‘judicial decisions’ as ‘subsidiary means for the determination of rules of law’ within the meaning of Article 38(1)(d) of the Statute of the International Court of Justice. This element of the otherwise thoroughly-scrutinized Article 38 having previously flown under the radar of scholarly and judicial analysis, my work with the Codification Division enabled me to grapple with under-explored legal questions in a context of practical significance. Working at this bridge between the intellectual exploration and the real-world application of public international law was an invaluable supplement to my academic studies in the field.

In addition, my internship gave me access to the dynamic hub of international political, social, economic and legal affairs that is the UN Headquarters. I was able to attend the General Debate of the 70th session of the UN General Assembly; as well as several meetings of the UN Security Council, including that in which Russia vetoed a resolution to establish an international tribunal for the MH17 crash.

I am immensely grateful to the Oxford Public International Law Group for their generous support, without which this very memorable experience would not have been possible.