Introduction to International Law

Overview

The focus will be on the theoretical background of international law as well as its practical implications in our globalised world. It will thus provide a critical, analytical, and stimulating perspective on the nature and scope of international law for every scholar interested in this field. Furthermore, our location in London will offer you access to law firms exclusively dedicated to international law (such as Volterra Fietta), and to international organisations based in London (such as the International Maritime Organisation and the Commonwealth of Nations, International Coffee Organisation).

Teaching in lectures and seminars will be supplemented with a number of structured study sessions, such as a supervised library skills workshop, and assessment preparation for the coursework.

Course aims

This Introduction to International Law course from Queen Mary University of London aims to:

• provide you with fundamental knowledge of the development of international law, its basic functions and workings, its role in our world today, and its most pressing challenges these days
• offer you an overview of how international law affects domestic law, as well as individuals and their daily life
• give you an understanding of the various fields of international law and how they are interconnected
• explain the practical aspects of international law by showcasing the work of law firms engaged in international law cases and the work of international organisations based in London
• engender an understanding and appreciation of the international legal system, as well as familiarising you with its significance for the law (both international and domestic) as well as politics
• assess these contemporary challenges in structured seminars and through the proposed form of assessment (ie coursework)