Student Information

• Centre Internships
• Student Editorships
• Careers in International Law
• Studying International Law
• Jessup International Law Moot

 

Centre Internships and the External Placement Program

The Sydney Centre offers two internship positions to Sydney Law School students in each semester of the academic year. Interns must be available to work one day per week for the duration of one semester. Interns are involved in the full range of the Centre’s activities, including international law research, drafting legal opinions, policy submissions to parliamentary committees and law reform bodies, hosting public seminars, and the production of the Australian International Law Journal. There are also some administrative duties. Interns report to the Centre Director and will work closely with the Director and other Associates of the Centre.

Selection Criteria: Applicants must have completed the undergraduate compulsory unit International Law, have a strong overall academic record, and have a demonstrated interest in international affairs or foreign policy.

To Apply: The internships credit towards the External Placement Program in Sydney Law School's undergraduate program. Applicants should accordingly apply for internships by enrolling in the External Placement Program in time for the start of either Semester 1 or Semester 2.

Where an internship is not filled through the External Placement Program, it will be opened to Sydney law students on a competitive basis (for non-degree purposes). Any such positions will be advertised by email to all Sydney law students, and applicants will be requested to send a copy of their CV, academic transcript to date and a half page statement explaining why they would like to intern with the Centre.

Click here for a report by a Centre Intern in 2007 (PDF).

Student Editorships: Australian International Law Journal

Each year the Australian International Law Journal recruits Sydney Law School student volunteers to serve as Student Editors on the Journal.

The Journal is an annual, peer-reviewed journal which publishes in all areas of public and private international law. From 2007, it is a joint publication of the International Law Association (Australian Branch) and the Sydney Centre for International and Global Law in the Faculty of Law. Subscribers include major international and Australian universities, international organisations, governments and international law practitioners.

Student editors will be involved in all aspects of production, including soliciting articles, sending out articles for peer review, editing, style-guiding, cite-checking and proofreading. There may also be the opportunity to write and publish case notes on important recent international law decisions.

Selection Criteria: Applicants must have completed the undergraduate compulsory unit International Law, have a strong overall academic record, and have a demonstrated interest in international affairs or foreign policy. Previous editorial experience is an advantage, but not essential.

To Apply: Please send a copy of your CV, academic transcript to date and a half page statement explaining why you would like be a Student Editor, to the Editor in Chief at law.scil@usyd.edu.au.

Closing Dates: For Semester 1 of 2008 - Friday 7 March. For Semester 2 of 2008 - Friday 18 July.

Careers in International Law

There are a surprising number of challenging and rewarding opportunities available to students interested in a future career in international law, but it is often difficult to know where to start. Centre Program Director Dr Fleur Johns has prepared a useful Guide to International Law Careers, available here (PDF), which provides advice on opportunities available.

Sydney Globalist, 'Career Profile of Dr Ben Saul- Life as an International Lawyer'. For further details please click here.

Studying International Law

click here for overview...

Undergraduate Law: Sydney Law School is one of the few Australian law schools in which international law (public and private) is a compulsory undegraduate unit, reflecting the importance that Sydney places on the study of international law. In addition to tne compulsory unit, Sydney Law School and the members of the Sydney Centre offer a range of elective units, including: Advanced Public International Law; [Advanced] Private International Law; International Human Rights Law; War Law: Use of Force and Humanitarian Law; International Commercial Transactions; Jessup International Law Moot.

Click here for details of undergraduate units offered at Sydney.

Postgraduate Law: Sydney Law School has developed innovative postgraduate coursework programs specialising in international law, with more than 50 courses available in international or comparative law.

Click here for details on the Master of International Law Program at Sydney Law School.

Click here for the interdisciplinary Master of International Business and Law at Sydney University.

Sydney also offers highly regarded, advanced research degrees in international law. Click here for details of research degrees such as the Master of Laws by Research, the Doctor of Philosophy and the Doctor of Juridical Studies.

Jessup International Law Mooting Competition

Sydney Law School students compete annually in the world's most prestigious international law mooting competition, and became world champions in Washington DC in 1996 and again in 2007. The Jessup Moot provides competitors with an unparalleled opportunity to work closely in a team to represent fictional States in a hypothetical case before the International Court of Justice on cutting-edge areas of international law.

Teams must prepare detailed and lengthy written submissions (two 9,000 word Memorials) and then moot against other teams from around Australia at the Australian Regional Rounds. The two finalist teams will then travel to Washington to compete in the International Rounds against teams from around the world.

Click here for a report by the world championship 2007 Sydney team on their experiences (PDF).

Why do it?

• Most demanding and rewarding work you will do as an undergraduate student
• Take your legal knowledge and expertise to the limit of the law in an area of study
• Foundation for postgraduate studies and professional career
• Intense training in mooting and oral advocacy
• Most prestigious competition for law students in the world
• Recognised as a mark of excellence
• Recognised alternative to doing a summer clerkship
• Past participants have gone on to work at the UN (ICTY, ICTR, UNCC, UNHCR); ICC; Office of International Law, Cth AG’s; DFAT; London, Sydney and New York Bar; Red Cross etc
• Full subject credit points (8)
• If win or come runner-up in Australia, flights to and accommodation in Washington DC

What we are looking for:

• 5 positions, with 2-3 reserves
• Academic excellence
• Mooting or public speaking experience (note that the ability to express thoughts clearly is essential)
• Very hard workers
• Good team players

The course is highly demanding and it is recommended that members of the Jessup team do not undertake work or other commitments over the summer vacation.

For further information concerning the Jessup Moot competition generally, see the International Law Students Association (ILSA) website.

Applications for the 2008-2009 course and competition are now closed.

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