Nations can no longer survive in seclusion from the rest of the world. International interaction is no longer a choice but a necessity for every country. In such a scenario it becomes important to have a set of rules and regulations to monitor these inter-country activities. International law has therefore become an important aspect of law and connotes the rules that nations recognize as binding upon one another in their mutual relations. Sources of international law include treaties, customs, general principles of law, resolutions and declarations of international organizations, equity and writings of judges and legal scholars. Conventionally, international law used to deal with the relations and dealings of nations with each other but recently it has started including relations between states and individuals and relations between international organizations as well.
About the International Law
The course trains students in the use of international law techniques and helps them to develop imaginative, conceptual and practical analysis of the various aspects and dynamics of international law. The course studies 2 distinct legal disciplines:
- Public international law (which deals with questions of rights between several nations or nations and the citizens or subjects of other nations).
- Private international law (which deals with controversies between private persons, natural or juridical, arising out of situations having significant relationship to more than one nation).
Off late the distinction between public and private international law has became increasingly uncertain. Issues of private international law may also implicate issues of public international law and many matters of private international law have substantial significance for the international community of nations.
Career Options
As a lawyer specializing in international law you can work in any of the following domains of the subject, either as a practicing lawyer or as an academician.
- International economic law
- International security law
- International criminal law
- International environmental law
- Diplomatic law
- International humanitarian law or law of war.
- International human rights law
Career Prospects
As more and more companies and organizations are going multinational with numerous mergers and acquisitions taking place, lawyers with detailed knowledge of international laws and treaties are in demand. Such lawyers play a big role in helping companies and individuals put together business deals and contracts that extend across nations. Now all of a sudden, you have not just big companies, but even medium sized and small firms conducting global transactions requiring the services of corporate lawyers with knowledge of international law. Law firms across the country have woken up to this trend and have thus started offering the specialization of international law among their list of services.Even the government and various human rights organizations now recognize the importance of having someone on board who comes with extensive knowledge about international laws. The shipping industry also requires lawyers specializing in the field. Legal systems vary from country to country. Lawyers in this field therefore need to work hard at sorting through the differences, both legal and cultural (since you would be often working with foreign clients).