Students
LAWS8015 – International Law
2024 – Session 1, Online-scheduled-weekday
General Information
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| Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Senior Lecturer
Dr Constantinos Yiallourides
Contact via Email
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| Credit points |
Credit points
10
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| Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
Admission to GradCertLaw or JD or LLM or MIntTrdeComLaw
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| Corequisites |
Corequisites
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| Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
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| Unit description |
Unit description
Public international law regulates the legal issues that have global or transboundary dimensions. Through this unit students evaluate the effectiveness of international law in addressing real problems that confront the international community. The unit provides an introduction to public international law's key principles, rules, norms and practices. Coverage includes the role of the United Nations, the law of treaties, the rights and responsibilities of states vis-a-vis each other, their own nationals and those of other states, the limits of state jurisdiction, state and diplomatic immunity, international dispute settlement and the relationship between international law and Australia's legal system. |
Important Academic Dates
Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
- ULO1: Demonstrate an advanced knowledge of the fundamental principles of public international law including the identification and analysis of key primary sources of international law including treaties and case law.
- ULO2: Describe the role, rights and responsibilities of some major international organisations under international law.
- ULO3: Apply international law to complex situations and explain the operation of the rights and responsibilities of states in relation to other states; international institutions; private interests and domestic populations.
- ULO4: Critically analyse the relationship between international and national law, particularly Australian law.
- ULO5: Describe and assess the various means for dispute resolution at international law
General Assessment Information
Late Assessment Submission Penalty
Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, a 5% penalty (of the total possible mark) will be applied each day a written assessment is not submitted, up until the 7th day (including weekends). After the 7th day, a mark of ‘0’ (zero) will be awarded even if the assessment is submitted. Submission time for all written assessments is set at 11:55pm. A 1-hour grace period is provided to students who experience a technical issue.
This late penalty will apply to non-time-sensitive assessment (including essays, reports, posters, portfolios, journals, recordings, etc). Late submission of time-sensitive tasks (such as tests/exams, performance assessments/presentations, scheduled practical assessments/labs, etc.) will only be addressed by the unit convenor in a Special Consideration application. Special Consideration outcome may result in a new question or topic.
Submission Instructions
Students should carefully check that they submit the correct file for an assessment as no resubmissions will be accepted after the due date and time, including instances where students upload an incorrect file in error.
Word limits will be strictly applied and work above the word limit will not be marked. Footnotes are only to be used for referencing. Substantive material in footnotes will not be marked.
All assessments in the unit are to be submitted electronically via Turnitin. Plagiarism detection software is used in this unit.
All assessments must be appropriately referenced, applying the Australian Guide to Legal Citation (4th ed). The Guide is available here <https://law.unimelb.edu.au/mulr/aglc>.
Assessments must be submitted in Word and must employ double (i.e., 2.0) spaced text and 12 point, Times New Roman font. Headings and subheadings should be used where appropriate.
Markers in this unit undertake a process to establish a common marking standard and all Fail papers are double-marked.
Please refer to iLearn for additional information on assessments.
Assessment Tasks
| Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional Skills Task | 40% | No | 23:55 20/04/24 |
| Participation | 20% | No | Ongoing |
| Online test | 40% | No | 06/06/24 (between 2:00pm-5:00pm) |
Professional Skills Task
Assessment Type 1: Professional writing
Indicative Time on Task 2: 15 hours
Due: 23:55 20/04/24
Weighting: 40%
This task will focus on a particular professional skill relevant to international law. Students will research and produce a piece of writing typical of the legal profession such as a brief, a judgment, submissions or law reform analysis.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Demonstrate an advanced knowledge of the fundamental principles of public international law including the identification and analysis of key primary sources of international law including treaties and case law.
- Describe the role, rights and responsibilities of some major international organisations under international law.
- Critically analyse the relationship between international and national law, particularly Australian law.
- Describe and assess the various means for dispute resolution at international law
Participation
Assessment Type 1: Participatory task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 0 hours
Due: Ongoing
Weighting: 20%
Participatory tasks such as quizzes, debates, discussions and problem solving exercises.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Demonstrate an advanced knowledge of the fundamental principles of public international law including the identification and analysis of key primary sources of international law including treaties and case law.
- Apply international law to complex situations and explain the operation of the rights and responsibilities of states in relation to other states; international institutions; private interests and domestic populations.
- Critically analyse the relationship between international and national law, particularly Australian law.
Online test
Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 15 hours
Due: 06/06/24 (between 2:00pm-5:00pm)
Weighting: 40%
Students will complete a timed assessment online
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Demonstrate an advanced knowledge of the fundamental principles of public international law including the identification and analysis of key primary sources of international law including treaties and case law.
- Apply international law to complex situations and explain the operation of the rights and responsibilities of states in relation to other states; international institutions; private interests and domestic populations.
- Critically analyse the relationship between international and national law, particularly Australian law.
1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:
- the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
- the Writing Centre for academic skills support.
2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation
Delivery and Resources
Description:
This unit provides a comprehensive overview of public international law and its main components (including treaties, customary law, and judicial practice) and how these are applied to address contemporary issues of both national and international concern.
This unit is delivered via weekly lectures (made available online) and a weekly (in-person) or fortnightly (online) tutorial.
Please note that both lectures and weekly in-person tutorials commence in week 1.
Fortnightly online tutorials commence in week 2.
Please refer to Timetables/eStudent to see where and when your classes are being held.
Taught Topics Include:
- What is Public International Law
- Sources of Public International Law
- Relations of International & National Law
- Law of Treaties
- Statehood & Recognition
- Jurisdiction
- Immunities
- State Responsibility
- Use of Force
- International Dispute Resolution
- Collective Security
- Cross-cutting Issues
Prescribed textbook:
The required textbook is Cecily Rose et al, An Introduction to Public International Law (Cambridge University Press, 2022).
Unit Schedule
Please see iLearn for details.
Policies and Procedures
Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:
- Academic Appeals Policy
- Academic Integrity Policy
- Academic Progression Policy
- Assessment Policy
- Fitness to Practice Procedure
- Assessment Procedure
- Complaints Resolution Procedure for Students and Members of the Public
- Special Consideration Policy
Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.
To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.
Student Code of Conduct
Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/student-conduct
Results
Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit connect.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au
Academic Integrity
At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths support, academic skills development and wellbeing consultations.
Student Support
Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/
The Writing Centre
The Writing Centre provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.
- Workshops
- Chat with a WriteWISE peer writing leader
- Access StudyWISE
- Upload an assignment to Studiosity
- Complete the Academic Integrity Module
The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources.
Student Services and Support
Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:
- IT Support
- Accessibility and disability support with study
- Mental health support
- Safety support to respond to bullying, harassment, sexual harassment and sexual assault
- Social support including information about finances, tenancy and legal issues
- Student Advocacy provides independent advice on MQ policies, procedures, and processes
Student Enquiries
Got a question? Ask us via the Service Connect Portal, or contact Service Connect.
IT Help
For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/.
When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.
Changes since First Published
| Date | Description |
|---|---|
| 14/02/2024 | Due to a scheduling conflict, the due date for the mid-term assessment has now moved from 23:55, April 18th to 23:55, April 20th, 2024. |
Unit information based on version 2024.04 of the Handbook