Advanced Issues in International Law

Assignment Type: Essay

Word Limit: 2000 words

Instructions: Please answer ONE question

Essays MUST NOT exceed the maximum word length. Footnotes and bibliography are not included in the 2000 word count.

Please be sure that in your exam answers any verbatim quotation or close paraphrasing of sources (including the core textbook and lecture transcripts) is properly identified and attributed (using OSCOLA). Verbatim quotes must be in “……..” with a source and page number attribution. Close paraphrasing must be identified with a source and page number attribution.

Reference: OSCOLA

Sources: 10 independently find relevant authorities (which may include cases, statutes, and scholarly literature)

Textbook: International law by: malcolm evans 8th edition

ANSWER ONE QUESTION ONLY

  1. “The UK decision to ignore the ICJ’s Advisory Opinion on the Chagos Islands is inconsistent with its professed support for the international rule of law.” Do you agree with this statement? (essay question)
  2. A terrorist organisation located in the territory of the state of Vironico carries out an attack against the state of Carantorum, a neighbouring State. Advise the government of Carantorum as to whether it can lawfully use force in self-defence against the terrorist organisation in the territory of Vironico. (problem question)

Module Assessment Criteria:

  1. Relevant legal knowledge

Relevant legal knowledge refers to the candidate’s ability to demonstrate understanding of appropriate primary and secondary sources of law.

Assessment Criteria

  • Demonstrating your understanding of the reading materials connected with your essay question is necessary to achieve high marks
  • Demonstrating your understanding of the complex relationship between the rules and principles of international law, on the one hand, and the realities of international politics, on the other, is necessary to achieve high mark
  1. Analysis
  • Analysis refers to the candidate’s ability to demonstrate that they can break down a complex factual problem or theoretical question into smaller parts and apply relevant legal knowledge. Examples of analysis in law include identifying and separating distinct legal issues, discussing the different legal arguments that may relate to the parties in a factual problem, and identifying arguments in support of, and counter to, an essay statement.

Assessment Criteria

  • In problem questions, marks are awarded for your ability to apply your relevant legal knowledge to the problem facts. Further marks are awarded for your capacity to develop coherent arguments and/or identify areas where the law is unclear or unsettled.
  • In essay questions, marks are awarded for your ability to identify and separate distinct legal issues, and place them in the broader legal and political contexts. Further marks are awarded for your capacity to develop coherent arguments and/or identify areas where the law is unclear or unsettled.
  1. Communication

Communication refers to the candidate’s ability to demonstrate that they can share ideas and information effectively.* This criterion is composed of three parts: structure, style, and referencing.

Assessment Criteria

  • Essays – You will have included a clear introduction, which will comprise an explicit and assertive argument (a “thesis statement”) in response to the essay question and a clear indication of the different areas that you intend to cover in discussing that argument (a “roadmap”). In the main body of the essay, each of these indicated areas will be covered. For each paragraph there will be a clear and effective topic sentence, with analysis and evaluation, supported by appropriate sources of law. At the end of the essay, there will be a clear conclusion of the preceding evaluative points made in the main body of the essay and a reaffirmation / qualification of the argument stated in the introduction. You may have opted to include sub-headings, which should be logical and clear.

Problem Questions – You will have clearly considered your instructions and identified which parties you have been asked to advise and to have provided those parties with advice. In providing advice, you will have appropriately identified both explicit and implicit issues raised by the problem question and applied relevant sources of law. You will also have therefore shown an evaluation of the relevant claims / defences and given an indication of the likely success of such claims / defences. You may have opted to include sub-headings, which should be logical and clear.

  1. Evaluation

Evaluation refers to the candidate’s ability to demonstrate that they can make a judgement on an issue. Unlike analysis, evaluation is a subjective skill which often involves assessing the significance of a point within the wider context of the discussion being undertaken. Examples of evaluation in law include assessing the merits of a party’s case or legal argument, supporting or rejecting law reform proposals, and forming an opinion on an essay statement.

Assessment Criteria

  • You will demonstrate evaluation skills by doing the following:
  • In problem questions, you will provide an assessment of the parties’ legal rights and/or legal obligations that logically follows from the legal analysis. Typically this will require you to decide whether you believe a party has a strong legal claim.
  • Answers to essay questions have a thesis statement in the introduction and a concluding paragraph. The conclusion will give the student’s opinion on the essay statement.