LAW506
Public International Law
(Reif)
Prerequisite courses: None
Prerequisite for: Recommended for courses with “international” in the title and the Jessup Moot
Instructor: Professor Linda C. Reif
Course credit: 3
Method of presentation: lecture
METHOD OF EVALUATION
The primary method of evaluation in this course is a case comment (10 to 12 pages) worth 50% of the grade due mid-term.
The remainder of the grade in the course will be made up of: a 1 hour final exam worth 40% of the grade (open book) and class participation worth 10% (involving submission of a short written class participation record at the end of term).
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course is designed as a foundational introduction to the field of public international law, the system of law regulating the relations between states and other actors with international legal personality, primarily international organizations. Increasingly, Canadian domestic law implements Canada’s international obligations. Accordingly, knowledge of public international law is important for Canadian lawyers both in Canadian law practice and for working abroad and on the international level. This course will cover the core areas of public international law, and will place emphasis on current issues of particular relevance to Canada. Lectures on conducting international law research, case comment structure and writing techniques will be provided at the end of the first month to enable students to enhance their legal research and writing skills.
The course will be of interest both to students interested in just one course in international law and those wishing to take more specialized international law courses later and/or the Jessup International Law Moot Competition.
The course will cover the following topics:
Introduction to public international law (structure, history);
Sources of international law;
Subjects of international law and other international actors;
Domestic application of international law in the Canadian legal system;
Limitation of the use of force, UN peacekeeping and complex UN Charter Ch. VII missions;
State jurisdiction;
State immunities;
Introduction to international human rights law;
Introduction to international environmental law.
SPECIAL COMMENTS
Description updated 2020-21. Please contact the instructor for any specific questions you may have related to this particular course section.
REQUIRED TEXT:
P.M. Saunders, R.J. Currie, P. Akhavan, J. Brunnée, G. Van Ert, T. McDorman, F. Mégret, I. Mgbeoji, K. Mickelson, L.C. Reif & C. Waters, Kindred’s International Law: Chiefly as Interpreted and Applied in Canada 9th ed. (Toronto: Emond, 2019)