Public International Law (LAWS50041)
Graduate coursework level 5Points: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
About this subject
Contact information
Semester 1
Teaching staff:
Carrie McDougall (Subject Coordinator)
For current student enquiries, contact the Law School Academic Support Office
June
Teaching staff:
Anne Orford (Subject Coordinator)
For current student enquiries, contact the Law School Academic Support Office
Overview
| Availability(Quotas apply) | Semester 1 June |
|---|---|
| Fees | Look up fees |
This subject is an introduction to public international law. It offers an overview of the core doctrines, sources, and concepts of international law, and discusses the role of international institutions such as the United Nations in the development and application of international 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 will be encouraged to evaluate the position and relevance of international law in international politics and society by addressing past and current developments through case studies.
Indicative list of principal topics:
- The nature of international law;
- The sources of international law;
- The law of treaties;
- International dispute settlement, including through the International Court of Justice;
- The subjects of international law;
- Responsibility for breaches of international obligations;
- International law on the use of force, and
- The future of international law.
Each offering of this subject will a selection of subject-specific areas of international law such as international human rights law; international environmental law and climate change; the law of the sea, as well as hot topics and current issues in international law.
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 building blocks of international legal argument.
- have the capacity to develop legal arguments in response to international disputes or complex international events,
- be able to reflect critically on the role of states, international organisations, and private actors in international law.
- be able to think creatively about the role of international lawyers as part of a broader diplomatic, political, and economic field.
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 international legal arguments; and
- Present these specialist arguments, analyses and principles in a written form that is appropriately investigated, structured, developed, supported and referenced.
Last updated: 4 March 2025
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
All of
| Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| LAWS50023 | Legal Method and Reasoning | Summer Term (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS50024 | Principles of Public Law | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS50026 | Obligations | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
AND
One of
| Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| LAWS50027 | Dispute Resolution | No longer available | |
| LAWS90140 | Disputes and Ethics | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
| Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| LAWS70173 | International Law |
March (On Campus - Parkville)
August (On Campus - Parkville)
April (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: 4 March 2025
Assessment
June
| Description | Timing | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
Online take-home examination (8hrs)
| 2 - 3 weeks after teaching | 100% |
Semester 1
| Description | Timing | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
Class Participation | Throughout the teaching period | 10% |
Written Memorandum
| During the teaching period | 20% |
Examination
| During the examination period | 70% |
Additional details
The due dates of assessment will be made available to students on the Assessment Schedule on the Juris Doctor Canvas LMS Community. Note, these are updated regularly.
Last updated: 4 March 2025
Quotas apply to this subject
Dates & times
- Semester 1
Principal coordinator Carrie McDougall Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 36 Total time commitment 150 hours Pre teaching requirements Please refer to Canvas LMS to check on the pre-class readings and preparatory learning activities before the teaching period commences. Teaching period 3 March 2025 to 1 June 2025 Last self-enrol date 14 March 2025 Census date 31 March 2025 Last date to withdraw without fail 9 May 2025 Assessment period ends 27 June 2025 Semester 1 contact information
Teaching staff:
Carrie McDougall (Subject Coordinator)For current student enquiries, contact the Law School Academic Support Office
- June
Principal coordinator Anne Orford Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 30 hours Total time commitment 150 hours Pre teaching start date 16 June 2025 Pre teaching requirements Please refer to Canvas LMS to check on the pre-class readings and preparatory learning activities before the teaching period commences. Teaching period 30 June 2025 to 11 July 2025 Last self-enrol date 18 June 2025 Census date 4 July 2025 Last date to withdraw without fail 1 August 2025 Assessment period ends 22 August 2025 June contact information
Teaching staff:
Anne Orford (Subject Coordinator)For current student enquiries, contact the Law School Academic Support Office
What do these dates mean
Visit this webpage to find out about these key dates, including how they impact on:
- Your tuition fees, academic transcript and statements.
- And for Commonwealth Supported students, your:
- Student Learning Entitlement. This applies to all students enrolled in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP).
Subjects withdrawn after the census date (including up to the ‘last day to withdraw without fail’) count toward the Student Learning Entitlement.
Additional delivery details
This subject has an enrolment quota. Please refer to the Juris Doctor enrolment webpage for further information about re-enrolment and subject quotas. Melbourne Law School may reserve places in a subject for inbound study abroad and exchange students.
Last updated: 4 March 2025
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
- Rothwell, Kaye, Akhtar-Khavari, Davis, and Saunders, International Law: Cases and Materials with Australian Perspectives (3rd edition, 2019) [June offering only];
- Specialist materials will be made available via the LMS. Make sure to check Canvas LMS in the lead-up to the study period.
- Related Handbook entries
- Links to additional information
- Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
Last updated: 4 March 2025