LAWPUBL 421 : Advanced International Law

Law

2022 Semester Two (1225) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Advanced studies in selected areas of the law of nations; a critical analysis of existing and developing international law, and consideration of the relationship between law, economics, politics and international diplomacy.

Course Overview

This course will extend your knowledge and skills in public international law, including your capacity for conceptual thinking, policy-based reasoning and legal analysis.  The material in the course is of an advanced nature and the assessment is designed to be challenging.  An emphasis is placed on student commitment to readings before class, and on class participation.  A high level of conversational English language comprehension is  needed and students must have completed International Law before enrolling in this course.    In 2021 the course is expected to have a special focus on biodiversity and climate change, examining the role of diverse actors in these spheres including business and national courts, with specific topics relating inter alia to marine resources and the Antarctic and selected studies in international human rights law.  Students successfully completing the course are expected to come away with enhanced international legal knowledge and skills which should be useful in seeking employment in the public or private sector in related fields, as a prelude to postgraduate academic work, and as members of society seeking constructive change through international law to confront global challenges and opportunities.

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: LAW 435 or LAWPUBL 402 Restriction: LAW 408, LAWPUBL 459

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice
Capability 2: Critical Thinking
Capability 3: Solution Seeking
Capability 4: Communication and Engagement
Capability 5: Independence and Integrity
Capability 6: Social and Environmental Responsibilities
Graduate Profile: Bachelor of Laws

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Evaluate how international law is developing structurally, and reflect on the meaning of sovereignty in international law today. (Capability 1.1, 2.2 and 3.3)
  2. Develop and demonstrate a reflective working knowledge of the subfields of international law addressed in the course. (Capability 1.2 and 6.3)
  3. Be able to navigate your way through the resulting real-life legal problems, formulating, developing and presenting your perspectives on them effectively in the light of deeper tensions within the discipline. (Capability 1.3, 2.2, 2.3, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3 and 6.3)
  4. Develop further and refine the skills you have been acquiring in your law degree, including speaking, writing, reading, listening, analytical, problem-solving, reflective and creative skills, the ability successfully to undertake both independent and collaborative work, and the capacity to act with integrity in scholarship and beyond. (Capability 1.3, 2.1, 2.3, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 5.1, 5.2, 6.1, 6.2 and 6.3)
  5. Develop and demonstrate commitment to the values of the university through dedication to the task at hand including through focused preparation for class; class participation and a willingness to ask well-judged questions during or after class; attentive engagement in the practical, legal, political and conceptual matters addressed through the classes; reflection between classes on the material addressed; and an interest in related international news via both social and public media including radio, television, newspapers, magazines and journals. (Capability 4.3 and 5.2)
  6. Build the wider general intellectual skills and capacity expected of a graduate, including:•an intellectual openness and curiosity,•a capacity for creativity and originality,•intellectual integrity, respect for truth and for the ethics of research and scholarly activity, (Capability 1.3, 2.2, 5.1, 6.1, 6.2 and 6.3)
  7. Develop and demonstrate associated personal qualities including:•a love and enjoyment of ideas, discovery and learning,•an ability to lead in the community, and a willingness to engage in constructive public discourse and to accept social and civic responsibilities,•respect for the values of other individuals and groups, and an appreciation of human and cultural diversity. (Capability 2.2, 2.3, 3.2, 3.3, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 6.1, 6.2 and 6.3)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Assignments 30% Individual Coursework
Final Exam 70% Individual Coursework

Workload Expectations

This is a 15-point course. There will be around 36 hours of class time in this course, though blended learning options may also be incorporated. As a general guide, you should additionally expect a workload of three hours outside of the classroom for each hour spent in class. The guideline for the total workload for this course is 150 hours.

Your attendance at all classes is expected together with your committed participation in class.  However, the theory that underlies the course is that learning is an experience that depends closely on your own engagement with the materials and the issues.  In order to experience satisfying, deep learning, it is up to you to take the time to work your way steadily through the topics addressed in step with the classes.  You will find that the readings and lectures work together to deliver a range of contemporary ideas and resources on each topic.  The course is designed to lead you to consider a selection of important questions in international law today and to support you to work out your views on them, providing core resources and a forum for discussion to enable you to develop the legal capacity and skills to influence change in the law and play an active part as graduates in creating a sustainable future in NZ and globally. 

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience


The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable. The lecture component of all classes will be available in recordings for enrolees to review and in case of lockdown lectures will be prerecorded.  Class discussion will be live only.  Small group work and class discussion, informal and casual comments will not be available in recordings. In case of lockdown small group work and class discussion will switch to zoom.

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

UN Audiovisual Library of International Law
http://www.un.org/law/avl/

The Max Planck Encyclopedias of International Law
https://opil-ouplaw-com.ezproxy.auckland.ac.nz/home/MPIL

Oxford Public International Law (which includes access to Oxford Scholarly Authorities on International Law)
https://www.library.auckland.ac.nz/databases/record/?record=OxfPubIntLaw
 
Cambridge Books
https://www.library.auckland.ac.nz/databases/record/?record=CamBooOnl
 
Elgar Online
https://www.library.auckland.ac.nz/databases/record/?record=ElgarOnline
 
International law subject guide
https://www.library.auckland.ac.nz/guides/law/international-law
 
International legal journals subject guide
https://www.library.auckland.ac.nz/guides/law/international-legal-journals
 
Environmental law subject guide > Journals
https://www.library.auckland.ac.nz/guides/law/environmental#=4
 

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Taking into account student feedback, in 2021 the in-term assessment in this course is by assignment rather than essay, the reading load for the course has been reduced and the conceptual and practical themes in the course have been selected with attention to students' likely learning curve in this advanced subject.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course director, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a Student Academic and Support Adviser as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course students may be asked to submit coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.

Published on 01/11/2021 09:07 p.m.