Prospectus

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The Law & Practice of International Organizations - Practicum

Course
2016-2017

NB Students who will start the LL.M. PIL programme in February 2016 should contact the programme coordinator, Ms. Leons (m.k.c.leons@law.leidenuniv.nl) to receive further information about the course schedule and preparatory readings. An information meeting for new PIL students will be scheduled in the first week of February 2016

Admission requirements

Bachelor degree in Law.

Description

International organisations play an important role in today’s international society. This course offers a comparative study of the institutional law of international organizations. Although each organization has its own legal order, institutional problems and rules of different organizations are often more or less the same, and an impressive body of institutional rules has been developed. International organisations have much in common, such as rules on membership, institutional structure, decision-making and decisions, financing and legal personality. The course discusses the practice of a number of international organizations, such as the United Nations (primary focus) and the European Union and ultimately aims to find unity within diversity.

Course objectives

Objectives of the course
The main objective of this course is to familiarize students with the law and practice of international organisations in order to find unity within diversity.

Achievement levels
The following achievement levels apply with regard to the course:
The following achievement levels apply with regard to the course:
Knowledge: After successfully completing this course, the student has a thorough knowledge of and insight into the existing legal framework, the fundaments and the system of the law and practice of international organizations. The student has a profound knowledge of the specific rules and regulations that were studied during the course and of the interrelationship between those rules. Moreover, the student is well aware of the political and social context in which these rules are applied.

Academic skills and attitude: After successfully completing this course, students can interpret and analyse the relevant sources and literature, draft legal documents under time pressure, and present and defend solutions before a student audience.

Timetable

The timetable of this course can be found in uSis.

Mode of instruction

Lectures

  • Number of (2 hour) lectures: 9 (1 per week)

  • Names of lecturers: Prof. dr. Niels M. Blokker; guest lecturers to be announced

  • Required preparation by students: Studying of the prescribed materials

Working groups

  • Number of (2 hour) working groups: 6 (1 per week)

  • Names of instructors: Dr. Erik V. Koppe

  • Required preparation by students: Studying of the prescribed materials and submit papers before a specified deadline in accordance with the procedure indicated in the Course Outline and Blackboard.

Other methods of instruction
None.

Assessment method

Examination form(s)

  • Exam (70% of the final grade); students must have attended 80% of the working groups in order to able to sit for the exam.

  • A practical exercise consisting of weekly assignments, presentations and panel discussions, which will count for 30% of the final grade. This grade will also count in case of a resit of the exam, but is valid only for one academic year.

Submission procedures
All written assignments must be submitted digitally on Blackboard and in hardcopy in class as indicated in the Course Outline and on Blackboard.

Blackboard

More information on this course is offered in Blackboard.

Reading list

Obligatory course materials

Literature:

  • H.G. Schermers & N.M. Blokker, International Institutional Law, Martinus Nijhoff, 5th revised edition (2011).

Course information guide: Course outline as posted on Blackboard.

Reader:
None.

Recommended course materials
To be announced on Blackboard.

Registration

Registration for seminars and exams through uSis. Also register on Blackboard for extra course information.

Contact information

  • Co-ordinator: Mr. Dr. Erik V. Koppe

  • Work address: KOG, Office B1.29

  • E-mail: volkenrecht@law.leidenuniv.nl

  • Telephone number: 071-527 7578 (secretariat)

Institution/division

  • Institute: Public Law

  • Division: Public International Law

  • Room number secretariat: KOG, Office B1.21

  • Opening hours: 9.00-17.00 hrs

  • Telephone number secretariat: 071-527 7578

  • E-mail: volkenrecht@law.leidenuniv.nl