About the Centre

The Sydney Centre for International Law was established in 2003 as a centre of excellence in research and teaching in international law. The Sydney Centre aims to provide a fresh focus for international legal research and practice in Australia. The Sydney Centre operates within the University of Sydney’s Faculty of Law and builds upon the Faculty’s well-recognised history of research, scholarship and teaching in international law. Globally recognised professors of international law at Sydney have included Julius Stone, James Crawford, Ivan Shearer and Donald Rothwell.

The Sydney Centre was established to pursue several main objectives:

• to promote excellence in the teaching of international law;
• to make a major contribution to international legal scholarship;
• to play a significant international legal advisory role for governments and non-governmental organizations in the Asia-Pacific region; and
• to enhance public awareness of, and interest in, international law.

Over the last two decades there has been a dramatic increase in the way public international law influences the conduct of states, citizens and corporations. There is an ever-growing body of international, transnational and regional rules governing activities at the international and domestic levels. More of us than ever before are taking part in the practices and processes of international law. These are significant changes and their impact has accelerated the need for research, for teaching excellence and for independent and comprehensive advice.

The primary focus of the Sydney Centre for International Law is the operation of international law in the region. The Sydney Centre specialises in teaching, research, consultancy and in promoting public debate on international legal issues. Apart from attracting doctoral students from across the region, the Centre is developing a program for visiting fellows. It provides services to governments and non-government organizations here and throughout the Asia Pacific. It actively seeks out centres of international research excellence elsewhere for purposes of collaboration. It also provides opportunities for student involvement, including internship positions and editorial positions, thus encouraging deeper interest in international law scholarship by a younger generation of potential scholars. Above all the Centre aims to foster links throughout Australia and the Asia Pacific region for those involved in the practice of international law.

The Centre's Associates and Affiliates are involved in teaching, research, media and consultancy work. The Centre is located in the Faculty of Law at the University of Sydney. Our Advisory Board consists of distinguished international lawyers.

The Aims and Objectives of the Centre

 

The Centre will promote excellence in teaching by:

• Offering a range of innovative and specialised postgraduate courses in all areas of international law;
• Attracting doctoral students of the highest calibre from around the world, and particularly from the Asia-Pacific region;
• Providing a Centre within the region that deals exclusively with the study and practice of international law;
• Promoting the Jessup International Law Moot Court competition;
• Providing challenging internship and editorial opportunities for students.

The Centre will contribute to scholarship and research by:

• Developing and expanding research within international law that builds on the well-recognised expertise of Sydney Law School;
• Publishing the peer-reviewed Australian International Law Journal in conjunction with the International Law Association (Australian Branch);
• Achieving eminence as the leading centre of research in international law in the Asia-Pacific region;
• Obtaining project funding from Australia and abroad that allows for pro bono undertakings in the public interest.

The Centre will have an advisory role because it will:

• Participate actively in public policy processes such as parliamentary inquiries into new laws and broader law reform inquiries;
• For the first time within the region develop the means to address comprehensively the needs of any who come to it for advice;
• Offer practical and independent advice on matters that are politically sensitive and also confidential;
• Bridge the gap that separates universities, private practice and government;
• Be sufficiently flexible to service a range of clients including governments, corporations and NGOs.

The Centre will enhance public awareness of international law by:

• Hosting regular public forums, seminars and lectures to promote and facilitate debate on important issues of international law;
• Providing the media with expert and independent commentary on topical issues of international law.

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