module specification

This module introduces you to the legal rules, principles, and institutions governing the conduct of states in their relations with each other. Against a backdrop of increasing global interconnection and conflict, public international law represents a continuous effort to manage world affairs and address shared problems.

You will study how international law is created, interpreted, and enforced, examining its sources, the central role of the United Nations, and the limits placed upon state conduct. The module covers foundational topics, including sovereignty, treaties, jurisdiction, and state responsibility, alongside the key actors such as states, international organisations, and individuals. We then explore significant sub-fields including the law of armed conflict, human rights, and the emerging legal regimes for climate change and outer space.

The aims of the module are as follows:

• You will develop a comprehensive understanding of the foundational principles, sources, and institutional structures of the public international law system.

• You will learn to analyse critically the role and limitations of international law in addressing contemporary global challenges, including armed conflict, climate change, and human rights violations.

• You will critically evaluate the traditional, West-centric foundations of international law, exploring alternative perspectives and silenced voices, in accordance with the Decolonising the Curriculum principles of the ESJ Framework.

• You will be empowered to see law as a potential instrument for social change by engaging with critical legal theories and examining how legal structures can challenge or perpetuate inequality, reflecting the Critical Theory and Pedagogy aims of the ESJ Framework.

• You will build confidence in articulating your own perspective on complex legal and political issues through an interactive learning environment and a choice of assessment topics, in line with the Identity, Personalisation and Reflection and Inclusive Assessment aims of the ESJ Framework.

This module supports graduate opportunity and employability by giving you key knowledge of a subject which is practised within the professional legal sector; and by giving you a host of transferable skills, including research, critical thinking and communication.

This module will guide you through the theory and practice of public international law over eleven weeks of teaching.

You will begin with a foundational exploration of the nature and history of international law. You will then examine its core components, including the principal sources such as treaties and custom, and the actors and institutions that shape its development, from states to international organisations and individuals. The following weeks delve into the fundamental concepts of jurisdiction and state immunity and the frameworks for state responsibility.

Having established these foundations, the module transitions to exploring key substantive areas. You will analyse the legal frameworks governing international trade and arbitration, climate change and environmental protection, the governance of outer space, the protection of international human rights, and the legal constraints on the use of armed force. The module dedicates time for consolidation, assessment guidance, and review to support your learning journey.

All these subjects pervade each of the Learning Outcomes 1, 2 and 3.

This module is built around active engagement and dialogue. The learning approach focuses on a highly interactive experience. Weekly three-hour sessions are divided between a lecture component
and a seminar, though we largely eschew the traditional boundary between the formats and often oscillate between them.

The lecture is designed to be discursive, encouraging your questions and comments to help ground our understanding of the core legal principles.

The seminar component provides a space for more open-ended, student-led discussion where you can explore the materials critically, test your arguments, and reflect on the wider implications of the law. This interactive format fosters a strong learning community and ensures you are at the heart of the educational experience, in line with the Relationships and Psycho-social Environment aspect of the ESJ Framework. Engagement is essential; your diligent preparation is the key to both your own success and the success of our shared discussions.

Learning & Teaching Strategy
Weekly two-hour lecture and one-hour seminar.
The lecture will be used for:
• Dissemination of knowledge through an overview of each topic with detailed guidance on appropriate aspects;
• An introduction to relevant academic literature;
• Guidance on learning strategies;
• Use of WebLearn and IT resources;
• Whole group questions and discussion.
The seminar will be used for the development of skills necessary to attain the module learning outcomes through:
• Written and oral questions/answers designed to reinforce fundamental rules, principles and cases;
• A range of step-by-step analytical exercises;
• Problem solving;
• IT tasks, such as research of cases and statutes;
• Legal writing;
• Oral presentation;
• Oral communication;
• Teamwork.

Blended Learning
All learning materials, previous examination questions and sample Q/A’s will be on blackboard for use in directed private study.

Student engagement will be encouraged in both lectures and seminars through weekly use of WebLearn for access to all of the above materials.
There will be required use of the professional legal databases, especially Westlaw and Lexis Library, for legal research.

Opportunities for reflective learning/pdp
Each weekly seminar will contain space for students to reflect on what they have learnt in relation to the overall syllabus. There will be frequent feedback opportunities structured into the timetable and a range of sample answers posted onto WebLearn.

Employability
Employability strategy will aim to acquaint students with a range of employment avenues both in the legal profession and in those professions into which legal qualifications and skills are transferable.

Student’s Study Responsibilities
The need for attendance, punctuality, preparation and engagement will be emphasised with particular reference to written and IT research, problem-solving, team-work, discussion, debate and critical awareness of the subject.

On successful completion of this module, you will be able to:

1, Demonstrate a systematic understanding of key aspects of the syllabus.

2. Demonstrate the ability critically to discuss case study problems relating to the syllabus, devising and sustaining arguments, and showing appreciation of uncertainties and ambiguities in legal principles and policy.

3. Demonstrate the ability to write critical, discursive essays relating to the topics covered in the syllabus, commenting on current research and primary sources.

https://rl.talis.com/3/londonmet/lists/B70D7E58-3987-4007-BFE1-5754120626E5.html

CORE
An Introduction to Public International Law, by Cecily Rose, 2022
Brownlie's Principles of Public International Law by James Crawford, 2019
DATABASES
Westlaw Edge UK
Lexis+ UK