Course is taught in the 1st semester.
Course description
This course is aimed at exposing students to some of the key theoretical and practical aspects relating to the conduct of proceedings before international courts and tribunals. With core theoretical and substantive principles of public international law in mind, students will gain insider and practical knowledge into how to participate as effective advocates in those proceedings.
The course will cover each key step of an international adjudication process, from the initial claim merits review to the convening of the hearing [i.e. (1) Initial Merits Review Memorandum; (2) Statement of Case/Claim/Memorial; (3) Documentary and Witness Evidence; (4) Counter-Memorials; (5) Oral statements at the Hearing; and (6) Cross-Examination of Witnesses]. At each stage, students will gain a theoretical and practical understanding of the aspects underpinning each procedural step. In particular, students will be called-upon to compare publicly-available pleadings and judgments/awards to identify the most effective practices. Lectures will adopt a comparative, systemic, approach to these procedural steps, focusing on proceedings before regional human rights bodies (namely the ECtHR, IACtHR, ACtHPR), the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and investment treaty and commercial tribunals.
Students will get an opportunity to be coached on how to deliver structured, cogent, concise and effective written and oral products in legal English. Personalised feedback and regular access to the lecturer(s) will be an essential part of this course.
**Course materials **
Students will be asked to review publicly-available pleadings and awards as well as a certain number of academic and practitioner materials, notably on the art of written and oral advocacy, the preparation of documentary and witness evidence and effective cross-examination.
*Disclaimer: Currently these pages are being updated to reflect the courses for 2022 - 2023. Until these pages are fixed as per 1 September 2022 no rights can be claimed from the information which is currently contained within.
Should there be any future changes of the Covid 19 virus which may impinge our teaching and assessment, these could necessitate modification of the course descriptions after 1 September. This will only happen in the event of strict necessity and the interests of the students will be taken into account. Should there be a need for any change during the course, this will be informed to all students on a timely basis. Modifications after 1 September 2022 may only be done with the approval and consent of the Faculty Board and Programme Director.