I/04 Legal Foundations

Law of Treaties and Interpretation
The course will be focussed on a particular source of international law, namely the law of treaties. Treaties (or conventions), which are one of the most important sources of international law, will be considered under all their main legal aspects: the definition of conventional acts; the conclusion and validity of conventions; the interplay of treaties with the municipal law of the States; reservations to treaties; the scope of validity of treaties; the relationship of treaties with other sources of international law, namely customary law; the effect of treaties on third States; the interpretation of treaties; the modification of treaties; the termination of treaties. Moreover, the political importance of the treaty sphere will be considered, including in particular aspects relevant to the law: e.g. the movement towards the codification of international law.
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.
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 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.