NB Students who will start the LL.M. PIL programme in February 2020 should contact Ms. Nathalie Walstra-Jansen (n.walstra@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 2019.
Admission requirements
Bachelor degree in Law.
Description
International organizations 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 organizations 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, in particular the United Nations and practices writing skills in relation to the practice of international organizations.
Course objectives
Objectives of the course
The main objective of this course is to familiarize students with the law and practice of international organizations in order to find unity within diversity.
Achievement levels
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 foundations 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 discuss their findings before a student audience.
Timetable
The timetable of this course can be found in uSis.
Mode of instruction
Lectures
Number of (2 hour) lectures: 10 (generally 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
Colloquia
Number of (2 hour) working groups: 5 (on average 1 per two weeks, for exact dates see Course Outline)
Names of instructors: to be announced
Required preparation by students: Studying the prescribed materials and submitting papers before a specific deadline in accordance with the procedure indicated in the Course Outline and on Blackboard.
Other methods of instruction
None.
Assessment method
Examination form(s)
Exam (70% of the final grade); students must have attended 80% of the colloquia and submitted 75% of all colloquia assignments in order to be able to sit for the exam.
A number of written assignments the average grade of which will count for 30% of the final grade. This average grade will also count in case of a resit of the exam, but is valid only for one academic year.
This course has the status of a practical exercise.
Regulation retake passed exams
In this course it is possible to retake an exam that has been passed (cf. art. 4.1.8.1 and further of the Course and Examination Regulations), on the condition that this course is included in the compulsory components of the degree programme. Students who have passed the exam may retake the final written assessment (test) of the course. Please contact the Student Administration Office (OIC) for more information.
Submission procedures
All written assignments must be submitted in accordance with the procedure indicated in the Course Outline and 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: to be announced
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