LAW 506
Public International Law
(Harrington)
Prerequisite courses: First year law
Prerequisite for: Jessup International Law Moot Competition
Recommended for courses with "International" in the title
Instructor: Professor Joanna Harrington
Method of presentation: Lecture
Teamwork: Optional
METHOD OF EVALUATION
An optional written assignment, done as a team of two, worth 25% if it improves the grade
A final examination worth 100% (or 75% with an optional assignment that helps the grade)
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course is a foundational course in an area of law that is not covered in the first year of a JD degree, and thus provides a foundation for taking advanced courses in international law subject areas such as international trade law, international criminal law, international human rights law, and international environmental law. The course aims to appeal to both those looking for just one course in international law to round out their JD program, and to those wanting to sequence their courses so as to have a foundational knowledge before taking more specialized courses in the various fields of international law. LAW 506 is a prerequisite (and in a pinch, a co-requisite) for the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition.
Public International Law (also called International Law) is not the same as, nor connected to, Private International Law (also called Conflicts of Law). Public International Law is concerned with an entire system of law, separate from, but relevant to, and interacting with, domestic law (Canadian law). Private international law is a subject area within domestic law that determines which law applies as between two domestic law jurisdictions.
Public international law is concerned with the rules, principles, practices, and procedures that regulate the interaction between countries, and between countries and international organizations, such as the United Nations, and in some situations, between countries, legal persons (corporations) and individuals. It is a field of increasing importance given the interconnectedness of the world we live in and the internationalization of legal practice in Canada and elsewhere. Lawyers dealing with people, transactions, and property in multi-jurisdictional scenarios need to understand the basics of public international law.
The aim of this course is to provide a foundation, covering such topics as the sources of international legal rules, the subjects of international law, jurisdiction and immunities, as well as topics of relevance to Canada such as the law of the sea and the Arctic, and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. A schedule of topics and readings is posted to the course TWENsite in advance of the beginning of the term. The TWENsite for the course also provides 24/7 access to past exams, past feedback on exams, and other learning aids.
SPECIAL COMMENTS
Description updated 2025-26. Please contact the instructor for any specific questions you may have related to this particular course section.
REQUIRED TEXT (IF ANY)
Currie, Forcese, Harrington & Oosterveld, International Law: Doctrine, Practice, and Theory, 3rd ed (Toronto: Irwin Law, 2022). Zero Textbook Cost: An e-book version of the required textbook is available via the Library catalogue.