LL4E6 Half Unit
International Dispute Resolution: Courts and Tribunals
This information is for the 2016/17 session.
Teacher responsible
Dr Devika Hovell NAB6.32 and Prof Andrew Lang NAB6.19
Availability
This course is available on the MSc in Human Rights, Master of Laws and Master of Laws (extended part-time study). This course is available with permission as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit.
This course is capped at 30 students. Students must apply through Graduate Course Choice on LSEforYou.
Pre-requisites
Some prior knowledge of international law is useful but not essential.
Course content
Increasingly, international law is developed, applied and amended through litigation in international, regional and domestic courts. Richard Goldstone, former Prosecutor of the Yugoslav Tribunal, has gone so far as to say, 'it seems to me that if you don't have international tribunals, you might as well not have international law'. In this course, we examine key courts and tribunals operating on the world stage, including the International Court of Justice, the International Criminal Court, the European Court of Human Rights and the WTO Dispute Settlement Body. We look at the theory, politics and practical difficulties of international dispute resolution in these courts.
The course has practical and theoretical aspects. For those interested in a career in international law, we will have the opportunity to hear from a range of interesting and eminent practitioners currently working in the courts and tribunals we study. Interested students can engage in a 'mini¬ moot' before our guest speakers, providing an opportunity to hone their advocacy skills.
The theoretical dimension of the course involves three main elements:
1. First, the course examines the structure and work of the International Court of Justice, the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, focusing on jurisdiction/admissibility, contentious cases and advisory opinions.
2. Secondly, the course introduces a variety of other international courts and tribunals, such as the International Criminal Court, domestic and regional courts dealing with international law and human rights, including the European Court of Human Rights and the European Court of Justice, the WTO Dispute Settlement Body and investment treaty arbitral tribunals. Using contemporary and controversial case studies, the course will critically analyze and contrast the institutional design and jurisdiction of these courts and tribunals.
3. Thirdly, throughout the course we explore key theoretical controversies surrounding the adjudication of international law, focusing in particular on (a) how these courts and tribunals relate to one another (hierarchy, specialization and fragmentation); (b) what criteria should be used in assessing the legitimacy and effectiveness of these courts and tribunals; and (c) whether and how these courts and tribunals create international law.
Teaching
20 hours of lectures in the MT. 2 hours of lectures in the ST.
There will be a reading week in Week 6 of Michaelmas term.
Formative coursework
Students are asked to choose from EITHER an oral moot presentation and written submissions OR one 2,000 word formative essay
Indicative reading
Reading lists will be provided for each week’s seminar on Moodle.
Indicative reading includes Karen Alter, The New Terrain of International Law: Courts, Politics, Rights (2014 Princeton); Gleider Hernández, The International Court of Justice and the Judicial Function (2014 OUP); Yuval Shany, ‘No Longer a Weak Department of Power? Reflections on the Emergence of a New International Judiciary’ (2009) 20(1) European Journal of International Law 73; Frederic Megret and Marika Giles Samson, ‘Holding the Line on Complementarity in Libya: the Case for Tolerating Flawed Domestic Trials’ (2013) 11 Journal of International Criminal Justice 571.
Assessment
Exam (100%, duration: 2 hours, reading time: 15 minutes) in the main exam period.
Key facts
Department: Law
Total students 2015/16: 22
Average class size 2015/16: 22
Controlled access 2015/16: Yes
Value: Half Unit
Personal development skills
- Communication
- Specialist skills
Course survey results
(2012/13 - 2014/15 combined)
1 = "best" score, 5 = "worst" scoreThe scores below are average responses.
Response rate: 88%
Question |
Average | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Reading list (Q2.1) |
1.5 | ||||||
Materials (Q2.3) |
1.4 | ||||||
Course satisfied (Q2.4) |
1.3 | ||||||
Lectures (Q2.5) |
1.3 | ||||||
Integration (Q2.6) |
1.3 | ||||||
Contact (Q2.7) |
1.4 | ||||||
Feedback (Q2.8) |
1.5 | ||||||
Recommend (Q2.9) |
|