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Public International Law (LAWS50041)
Graduate coursework level 5Points: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
For information about the University’s phased return to campus and in-person activity in Winter and Semester 2, please refer to the on-campus subjects page.
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable(opens in new window)
Contact information
Please refer to the LMS for up-to-date subject information, including assessment and participation requirements, for subjects being offered in 2020.
Overview
Availability(Quotas apply) | Semester 2 |
---|---|
Fees | Look up fees |
This subject is designed to enable students to critically analyse the principles of public international law, place them in their historical context, and understand how they may be used in the practice of law. The subject will build on the understanding of international law acquired in Principles of Public Law and enable students to engage deeply with international law in the context of contemporary global events. Students are encouraged to consider multiple perspectives – of states, of individuals and of other actors – in order to acquire an expert understanding of the impact of public international law on public and private activities. The topics addressed in the course will include:
- Developing International Law;
- International Legal Personality – the role of states, international organisations and individuals in international law;
- The Application of Treaties;
- Jurisdiction and Immunity from Jurisdiction;
- The Responsibility of States and Other Actors for Breaches of International Law;
- The Use of Force and the Powers of the Security Council of the United Nations; and
- Judicial and Non-Judicial Methods of International Dispute Resolution.
The aim is to acquire an historically-situated understanding of international law and the choices made and not made by international lawyers in the context of current international disputes.
Intended learning outcomes
On completion of this subject, students should:
- have developed an advanced understanding of the development and structure of the international legal system and the historical and theoretical bases for public international law.
- have developed an advanced and integrated understanding of the principles of public international law.
- have the capacity to apply international law principles to complex international events, including events involving territorial disputes, jurisdictional disputes and the use of force by states and other international actors.
- be able to reflect critically on the role of states, international organisations and individuals in international law.
- be able to think creatively about the type of arguments that may be raised in international legal disputes in fora such as the International Court of Justice.
Generic skills
On completion of the subject, students should have developed the following skills to draw on their developed understanding of Public International Law to:
- Interpret the historical context of the law in order to analyse complex contemporary politico-legal problems;
- Investigate and analyse diverse aspects of the international legal regime through the location and close reading of a range of relevant primary and secondary source materials;
- Develop well-reasoned and sophisticated arguments as to the appropriate legal principles to apply in various circumstances in which aspects of public international law are relevant; and
- Present these specialist arguments, analyses and principles in the form of written arguments that are appropriately investigated, structured, developed, supported and referenced.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
Successful completion of all the below subjects:
Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
LAWS50023 | Legal Method and Reasoning |
Summer Term (On Campus - Parkville)
April (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
LAWS50024 | Principles of Public Law |
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
June (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
LAWS50026 | Obligations |
May (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
And one of:
Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
LAWS50027 | Dispute Resolution | Not available in 2024 |
12.5 |
LAWS90140 | Disputes and Ethics | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
Students who have completed the below subject are not permitted to take LAWS50041 Public International Law:
Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
LAWS70173 | International Law |
July (On Campus - Parkville)
June (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Assessment
Due to the impact of COVID-19, assessment may differ from that published in the Handbook. Students are reminded to check the subject assessment requirements published in the subject outline on the LMS
Description | Timing | Percentage |
---|---|---|
Interim assessment - written memorandum
| Mid semester | 20% |
Supervised open-book examination
| During the examination period | 80% |
Additional details
The due date of the above assessment will be available to students via the Assessment Schedule on the LMS Community.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Quotas apply to this subject
Dates & times
- Semester 2
Principal coordinator Anne Orford Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours Total time commitment 144 hours Teaching period 3 August 2020 to 1 November 2020 Last self-enrol date 14 August 2020 Census date 21 September 2020 Last date to withdraw without fail 16 October 2020 Assessment period ends 27 November 2020
Additional delivery details
This subject has an enrolment quota of 60 students.
Enrolments occur on a first come, first served basis up to quota, except for the timely re-enrolment period. Timely enrolments enter a selection process, and unsuccessful enrolments are withdrawn.
Please refer to the Melbourne Law School website for further information about the management of subject quotas.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
- Dixon, McCorquodale and Williams, Cases and Materials on International Law (6th edition, 2016), and
- Specialist materials will be made available from Melbourne Law School.
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Course Juris Doctor - Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
This subject is available to students studying at the University from eligible overseas institutions on exchange and study abroad. Students are required to satisfy any listed requirements, such as pre- and co-requisites, for enrolment in the subject.
Last updated: 3 November 2022