LAW-40040 - Foundations of International Law

Coordinator: Emma L Allen Room: CBC2.014 Tel: +44 1782 7 34512

Lecture Time: See Timetable...

Level: Level 7

Credits: 15

Study Hours: 150

School Office: 01782 733218

Programme/Approved Electives for 2020/21

Human Rights, Globalisation and Justice (Level 4)
Human Rights, Globalisation and Justice (Level 4)
Law and Society (Level 4)
Law and Society (Level 4)

Available as a Free Standing Elective

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

First or second class honours degree in Law or a related discipline (such as politics, criminology, sociology or history), or appropriate professional qualifications and/or experience

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2020/21

This foundational module in public international law is intended to provide students with a general understanding of the structure of the international legal system and the basic principles underlying the relations between states, international organisations and other actors in the international arena. It offers students an opportunity to look beyond the domestic sphere and examine how law governs important aspects of international relations. What can governments do when faced with international terrorism or the breach of an international agreement? Was the war in Iraq legal? Can NATO intervene to protect civilian populations in Syria? Are drone killings lawful? What is the role of international institutions like the United Nations or the World Bank? Can British courts exercise jurisdiction over crimes committed in other countries? Is Palestine a State? This survey course provides an overview of the subjects, sources and general principles of international law, as well as introducing more specific themes such as the resolution of international disputes, the law governing the use of force or the immunity of Heads of States.

Aims

The aim of this module is to equip students with the foundational knowledge required to undertake the study of international law at postgraduate level. Students will examine the basic concepts and practices which form the foundation of public international law as well as alternative conceptions and influences such as Third World or feminist approaches to international law.

Intended Learning Outcomes

demonstrate a secure understanding of the nature of public international law and its foundation in international instruments, custom and legal principles; will be achieved by assessments: 1, 2
identify and qualitatively appraise the sources, structures and procedures of international law and the institutions and individuals who practice international law; will be achieved by assessments: 1, 2
identify and describe the relevance of international law to current events; will be achieved by assessments: 1
locate relevant legal cases, identify the relevant legal principles and apply them to resolve the central legal problems in a fictitious case; will be achieved by assessments: 2
offer a critical judgment of the role of law (and its limits) in ordering international relations. will be achieved by assessments: 1

Study hours

10x2h seminars
1x1h tutorial (2x1h for non-law graduates - see Part 4: Indicative Content and Activities)
Plus:
40h seminar preparation
30h weekly assignments
59h private study and exam preparation

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Computer Task weighted 40%
Weekly online assignments
Every week, students will be asked to complete a simple online assignment based on assigned readings. Students may be asked, for instance, to complete a short questionnaire or to write short reflection pieces on international law cases, documents or news items. In answering the questions, students will be expected to demonstrate critical understanding of specific or technical issues discussed in seminars or readings. An overall mark will be given accross the range of weekly assignments, so as to take account of the student's progress and development throughout the semester, as demonstrated in the weekly assignments. The overall word limit for this assignment is 3,000 words.

2: Seen Exam weighted 60%
48h take-home exam
The take-home exam will include a brief legal memo on a real or fictitious case and a choice of two out of four shorter answer questions designed to test the student's understanding of the issues covered in the module. Students will be given 48h to complete the exam and to submit it electronically. The word limit for this assignment will be 2,000 words.

LAW-40040 - Module Specification School of Law Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

LAW-40040 - Module Specification
School of Law
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences