International Law

This course introduces students to key concepts and doctrines of international law with a focus on the relevance of international law to legal practice in an increasingly interdependent world.  The course examines the sources of international law such as custom and treaty, as well as critical international legal institutions such as the United Nations and International Court of Justice.  The course examines the role of international law within U.S. legal practice as well as detailed examination of international human rights law, international criminal law (including the International Criminal Court), the law of the sea (including issues arising in the South China Sea and Arctic), the use of force and weapons of mass destruction (including the Iran Nuclear Deal); international environmental law (including climate change); and global health law (including pandemics and the World Health Organization). The course provides the fundamental doctrines necessary for understanding and practicing international law within the U.S. or abroad.