International Law As A Profession

International law is not merely a set of rules or processes, but is a professional activity practised by a diversity of figures, including scholars, judges, counsel, teachers, legal advisers and activists. Individuals may, in different contexts, play more than one of these roles, and the interactions between them are illuminating of the nature of international law itself. This collection of innovative, multidisciplinary and self-reflective essays reveals a bilateral process whereby, on the one hand, the professionalisation of international law informs discourses about the law, and, on the other hand, discourses about the law inform the professionalisation of the discipline. Intended to promote a dialogue between practice and scholarship, this book is a must-read for all those engaged in the profession of international law.

This third edition of a best seller is an essential resource for law students and lawyers interested in a career in international law, irrespective of age, experience, nationality, residence or practice area. Each chapter is written by an attorney who has made the transition to international law. The authors detail their paths and describe what their work truly entails, including the pros and cons of their positions. Topics covered include: strategies for starting and developing an international law practice; international in-house counsel careers; international law and the public sector; developing a small firm international law practice; networking; and more.

This comprehensive source sets forth the basic considerations for preparing oneself at both the college and law school levels for a career in international law. It indicates what career opportunities are to be found in various sectors including federal government, private practice in the U.S. and abroad, international organizations, non-profit public sector, and what such careers are like. Serves as a reference manual by listing in extensive bibliographies additional sources of career information. Contributors include members of the Section of International Law and Practice of the American Bar Association, practitioners, and students of law.

This book takes the reader on a sweeping tour of the international legal field to reveal some of the patterns of difference, dominance, and disruption that belie international law's claim to universality. Pulling back the curtain on the "divisible college of international lawyers," Anthea Roberts shows how international lawyers in different states, regions, and geopolitical groupings are often subject to distinct incoming influences and outgoing spheres of influence in ways that reflect and reinforce differences in how they understand and approach international law. These divisions manifest themselves in contemporary controversies, such as debates about Crimea and the South China Sea. Not all approaches to international law are created equal, however. Using case studies and visual representations, the author demonstrates how actors and materials from some states and groups have come to dominate certain transnational flows and forums in ways that make them disproportionately influential in constructing the "international." This point holds true for Western actors, materials, and approaches in general, and for Anglo-American (and sometimes French) ones in particular. However, these patterns are set for disruption. As the world moves past an era of Western dominance and toward greater multipolarity, it is imperative for international lawyers to understand the perspectives and approaches of those coming from diverse backgrounds. By taking readers on a comparative tour of different international law academies and textbooks, the author encourages them to see the world through the eyes of others -- an essential skill in this fast changing world of shifting power dynamics and rising nationalism.

The experience of many students studying public international law at a university is: "This is fascinating, but what can I do with it?" This practical and focused guide explores the options available to law graduates, beyond the traditional or domestic law career paths. The range of possible careers is vast - from human rights to investment law and from the courtroom or boardroom to the refugee camp. A Guide to International Law Careers will help with considering whether and how to pursue a career in one of these areas. The essential message is that international law jobs are out there and attainable if approached strategically and with perseverance. The text - written as a series of questions and answers - is supplemented by practitioners' views and experiences, and the appendices contain concrete information on the most useful internships, short courses, and Master's programs. This practical guide to careers in international law is written primarily for recent law school graduates and students who wish to seek a career in the UK, as well as other Commonwealth countries - Canada, Australia, and New Zealand in particular. A couple of English language career guides have been published in the past, but they tend to be US focused. Also, uniquely, this guide provides a coherent, step-by-step approach.

"This guide...[provides an overview of] starting an international legal practice - as a private practitioner, as in-house counsel, in the public sector, or working at an NGO. This Fifth Edition presents a broad lineup of diverse contributors, who share their experiences of how they transitioned into international legal practice. Fifteen authors detail their goals, their paths, and how their professional lives have evolved."--

The law of occupation imposes two types of obligations on an army that seizes control of enemy land during armed conflict: obligations to respect and protect the inhabitants and their rights, and an obligation to respect the sovereign rights of the ousted government. In theory, the occupant is expected to establish an effective and impartial administration, to carefully balance its own interests against those of the inhabitants and their government, and to negotiate the occupation's early termination in a peace treaty. Although these expectations have been proven to be too high for most occupants, they nevertheless serve as yardsticks that measure the level of compliance of the occupants with international law. This thoroughly revised edition of the 1993 book traces the evolution of the law of occupation from its inception during the 18th century until today. It offers an assessment of the law by focusing on state practice of the various occupants and reactions thereto, and on the governing legal texts and judicial decisions. The underlying thought that informs and structures the book suggests that this body of laws has been shaped by changing conceptions about war and sovereignty, by the growing attention to human rights and the right to self-determination, as well as by changes in the balance of power among states. Because the law of occupation indirectly protects the sovereign, occupation law can be seen as the mirror-image of the law on sovereignty. Shifting perceptions on sovereign authority are therefore bound to be reflected also in the law of occupation, and vice-versa.

This book examines an interesting and relatively understudied area of the evolution of the international rule of law and the role of professional ethics. The rule of law has been gradually developed and promoted at the national level over centuries, however at the international level it has only recently received (more in rhetoric than in implementation) support from a macro perspective - developments of international rules and institutions, and from a micro perspective - ethical codes, independence and un-bias of professionals, working in international organizations and tribunals. The book offers analysis and recommends policies to strengthen the rule of law at international level to meet a major global governance demand in ensuring equity, justice, stability and consistency in international affairs.

'Legalist Empire' explores the intimate connections between international law and empire in the United States from 1898 to 1919.

Interest in international law has increased greatly over the past decade, largely because of its central place in discussions such as the Iraq War and Guantanamo, the World Trade Organisation, the anti-capitalist movement, the Kyoto Convention on climate change, and the apparent failure of the international system to deal with the situations in Palestine and Darfur, and the plights of refugees and illegal immigrants around the world. This Very Short Introduction explains what international law is, what its role in international society is, and how it operates. Vaughan Lowe examines what international law can and cannot do and what it is and what it isn't doing to make the world a better place. Focussing on the problems the world faces, Lowe uses terrorism, environmental change, poverty, and international violence to demonstrate the theories and practice of international law, and how the principles can be used for international co-operation.