I/03 Foundational Courses

State Responsibility

The classes on State responsibility are split up in two sessions of five hours. On the first day, students will be introduced to the history, concept and function of the rules on State responsibility within the legal context of public international law in general and international dispute settlement (International Court of Justice and other international courts and tribunals) in particular. On the second day, the acquired knowledge of the secondary State responsibility rules will be applied in the specific framework of primary rules of international economic law, more precisely their application in international trade and investment disputes (WTO Dispute Settlement Body and investor-State arbitral tribunals). The focus will be on the complementary role of these secondary rules in providing a ‘default’ option with regard to matters including emergency exceptions and security escape clauses, remedies, countermeasures, compensation, invocation of breach and enforcement.

Legal Analysis

Through the study of important WTO cases, students will learn how to read and brief WTO decisions (both Panel and Appellate Body), and through this activity learn more about the implementation of the WTO covered agreements. Students will be introduced to public international law, including treaty interpretation, and the substantive and procedural aspects of WTO dispute settlement. Pointers on reading legal decisions with comprehension will be provided. Students will also learn more about how to develop legal listening skills, presentation skills and writing skills. A brief introduction will be offered to (i) exam taking, and (ii) the summer Moot Court exercise.

Legal Writing

This two-day course will cover the fundamentals of written legal analysis. Its goal will be to produce written legal analysis using the following skills: predictive writing, rule-based synthesis, working with precedents and statutes, writing and applying rule proofs, working with facts and developing persuasive theory and arguments. Class will be interactive with numerous exercises. There will be a final paper, assigned in class, to be turned in after the completion of the course. All assigned reading is compulsory. When reading chapters, the problems/exercises are optional unless otherwise specified.

Semester long courses in law, economics and global political economy are not open to the public.