International law

146 topics across 7 chapters

Chapter 1

Foundations & sources of international law

Key concepts & structure of the system

3 subtopics

Core vocabulary: sovereignty, consent, good faith, reciprocity

Jus cogens & erga omnes obligations (overview)

Fragmentation & conflicts of norms (lex specialis, systemic integration)

Sources of international law (ICJ Statute Article 38) & hierarchy

3 subtopics

ICJ Statute Article 38: sources checklist + examples

Evidence of custom & state practice: research mini-workflow

Soft law: when nonbinding instruments matter

Treaty law (Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties basics)

3 subtopics

Treaty making: signature, ratification, entry into force (exercise)

Reservations & declarations (problem set)

Treaty interpretation (VCLT Articles 31–33) drills

Customary international law & general principles

3 subtopics

Custom: state practice + opinio juris (worked examples)

Persistent objector & special/regional custom (hypotheticals)

General principles & equity doctrines (estoppel, abuse of rights)

Domestic implementation & international law research basics

3 subtopics

Monism vs dualism and incorporation models (comparative note)

Find treaties/cases: UN Treaty Collection + ICJ/ITLOS databases (guided exercise)

Citation & research memo template (Bluebook/OSCOLA basics)

Chapter 2

Subjects of international law, jurisdiction & territory

States, recognition, self-determination & succession

3 subtopics

Montevideo criteria + recognition doctrines (quiz)

Self-determination & secession fundamentals (case-based)

State succession basics (treaties, nationality) (overview)

International organizations & individuals / non-state actors

3 subtopics

UN system & implied powers (Reparation for Injuries) case note

Responsibility of international organizations (ARIO) basics

Individuals & non-state actors: legal personality & obligations (concept map)

Jurisdiction & extraterritoriality (plus the basics of immunities)

3 subtopics

Bases of jurisdiction (territorial, nationality, passive, protective)

Universal jurisdiction & limits (case survey)

Jurisdictional immunities primer (how immunities limit courts)

Territory & the law of the sea (UNCLOS fundamentals)

3 subtopics

Acquisition of territory & boundary disputes (uti possidetis) (brief)

UNCLOS maritime zones worksheet (TS/contiguous/EEZ/shelf/high seas)

Piracy & hot pursuit scenario practice

Diplomatic & consular relations

3 subtopics

VCDR core protections & waiver (flashcards)

Consular notification (VCCR) and key litigation (summary)

Diplomatic premises inviolability & special missions (problem questions)

Chapter 3

International responsibility, immunities & remedies

State responsibility framework (ILC Articles overview)

3 subtopics

Elements of an internationally wrongful act (outline)

Circumstances precluding wrongfulness (problem set)

Reparation forms (restitution/compensation/satisfaction) (calculation drill)

Attribution, due diligence & complicity

3 subtopics

Attribution tests: organs, instructions/control (effective vs overall control)

Due diligence obligations across areas (environment/HR/cyber) (synthesis)

Aid/assistance & complicity (Art 16) hypotheticals

↗ Diplomatic & consular relations (see Chapter 2)

Countermeasures, standing & provisional measures

3 subtopics

Countermeasures conditions & proportionality checklist

Dispute settlement clauses, exhaustion & standing overview

Provisional measures and compliance strategies (ICJ/ITLOS examples)

Diplomatic protection

3 subtopics

Nationality of claims & continuous nationality rule (problems)

Exhaustion of local remedies: exceptions (flowchart)

Barcelona Traction and corporate claims (case brief)

Immunities (states & officials)

3 subtopics

Restrictive state immunity & commercial activity exception (case examples)

Official immunities: ratione personae vs ratione materiae (diagram)

↗ Jurisdictional immunities primer (how immunities limit courts) (see Chapter 2)

Chapter 4

Peace, security & the use of force

UN Charter framework & collective security

3 subtopics

UN Charter Articles 2(4), 39–42 reading guide

Chapter VI vs VII: measures & legal effects (table)

Uniting for Peace and practice examples (short memo)

Use of force, intervention & self-defense

3 subtopics

Use of force vs intervention vs coercion (definitions)

Self-defense: armed attack threshold, necessity, proportionality (exercise)

Humanitarian intervention / R2P: legal debates map

Security Council sanctions & enforcement

3 subtopics

Sanctions legal basis & types (overview)

Listing/delisting due process + Ombudsperson (case note)

Domestic implementation & compliance checklist (sanctions)

Peacekeeping & counterterrorism (and limits from IHL/IHRL)

3 subtopics

Peacekeeping principles + SOFA essentials (key clauses)

Responsibility for peacekeeper misconduct (attribution scenarios)

UN counterterrorism framework + human rights constraints (issue spotting)

Cyber operations & emerging domains

3 subtopics

Sovereignty & prohibited intervention in cyberspace (positions survey)

Cyber due diligence & countermeasures (hypotheticals)

Tallinn Manual: what it is and how to use it critically

Chapter 5

Human rights, refugee law & international humanitarian law (IHL)

UN human rights system (treaties, limits, complaints)

3 subtopics

Core UN human rights treaties map (ICCPR, ICESCR, CAT, CEDAW, CRC, etc.)

Derogations & limitations (problem set)

Individual complaints basics & exhaustion (how-to)

Regional human rights systems (Europe, Americas, Africa)

3 subtopics

ECHR admissibility checklist (standing, exhaustion, timeliness)

Inter-American & African systems comparison (matrix)

Remedies & enforcement across regions (practical overview)

Refugee law & statelessness

3 subtopics

Refugee definition + exclusion clauses (problems)

Non-refoulement across regimes (Refugee/CAT/IHRL) synthesis

Statelessness basics & protection gaps (overview)

International humanitarian law (IHL) foundations

3 subtopics

IAC vs NIAC classification decision tree

Protected persons & detention basics (Geneva Conventions) (study sheet)

Customary IHL: using the ICRC study critically (method note)

International criminal law & accountability (incl. ICC basics)

3 subtopics

Core crimes & elements (summary sheet)

ICC jurisdiction & complementarity (scenario)

Immunities vs international criminal jurisdiction (issue map)

Chapter 6

International economic & environmental law

100

International trade law (WTO basics)

3 subtopics

101

WTO structure + key principles (MFN, national treatment) worked examples

102

Exceptions & security exceptions (GATT XX/XXI) overview (case pointers)

103

Trade remedies basics (anti-dumping, safeguards) intro

104

International investment law & ISDS arbitration

3 subtopics

105

BIT standards (FET, expropriation) (case snippets)

106

ISDS procedure & jurisdiction traps (fork-in-road, denial of benefits)

107

Damages valuation basics + reform debates snapshot

108

Sanctions, export controls & economic coercion

3 subtopics

109

UN vs unilateral sanctions legality (countermeasures/extraterritoriality) overview

110

Export controls & dual-use compliance checklist

111

Secondary sanctions & jurisdictional issues (case study)

112

International climate change law (UNFCCC/Paris)

3 subtopics

113

UNFCCC/Kyoto/Paris architecture timeline

114

NDCs, transparency, and global stocktake study guide

115

Climate finance, adaptation, and loss & damage overview

116

Business & human rights / corporate responsibility

3 subtopics

117

UN Guiding Principles (Protect-Respect-Remedy) application exercise

118

OECD Guidelines & National Contact Points process overview

119

Mandatory HR due diligence laws + remedy strategies (survey)

Chapter 7

Dispute settlement & practice skills

120

International courts & tribunals: what they are and what they can decide

3 subtopics

121

ICJ/ITLOS/PCA/ICC/WTO/regional courts: jurisdiction snapshot

122

Consent to jurisdiction: clauses, declarations, compromissory clauses (examples)

123

Enforcement & compliance mechanisms (what actually works) overview

124

ICJ procedure & advisory opinions

3 subtopics

125

ICJ jurisdiction & admissibility checklist (Art 36, standing, exhaustion)

126

Written vs oral phases + pleadings structure (template)

127

Advisory opinions: who can request + legal effects (note)

128

Arbitration procedure (state–state and investor–state)

3 subtopics

129

Drafting arbitration clauses (state–state / investment) sample clauses

130

Tribunal constitution, evidence, hearings, confidentiality (rules overview)

131

Enforcement/annulment: New York Convention basics (overview)

132

Evidence, legal writing & argumentation in international law

3 subtopics

133

Authorities hierarchy & citation practice (footnote drill)

134

Memorial drafting template: issues → arguments → relief (exercise)

↗ Treaty interpretation (VCLT Articles 31–33) drills (see Chapter 1)

135

Mooting & career pathways

3 subtopics

136

Oral advocacy plan (moot-style) + feedback rubric

137

Careers map (UN/government/NGOs/firms/academia) + ethics basics

138

Portfolio plan: moots, clinics, publications, networking checklist