LL4E6 Half Unit
International Dispute Resolution: Courts and Tribunals
This information is for the 2025/26 session.
Course Convenor
Dr Devika Hovell
Availability
This course is available on the LLM (extended part-time), LLM (full-time), MSc in Human Rights, MSc in Law and Finance and University of Pennsylvania Law School LLM Visiting Students. This course is available with permission as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit. This course uses controlled access as part of the course selection process.
How to apply: Priority will be given initially to LLM, MSc Regulation and MSc Law and Finance students on a first-come-first-served allocation.
Spaces permitting, requests from all other students will be processed on the same first-come-first-served allocation from 10am on Thursday 2 October 2025
By submitting an application, students are confirming that they meet any pre-requisites specified. Providing an additional written statement will not aid a student's chances of being accepted onto a course, and statements are not read.
Deadline for application: Not applicable
For queries contact: Law.llm@lse.ac.uk
Some prior knowledge of international law is useful but not essential.
This course has a limited number of places and demand is typically high. This may mean that you’re not able to get a place on this course.
Requisites
Additional requisites:
Some prior knowledge of international law is useful but not essential.
Course content
At both international and domestic levels, international disputes are increasingly becoming the subject of judicial determination. In this course, we examine key courts and tribunals operating on the world stage, including the International Court of Justice, the International Criminal Court, the European Court of Human Rights, investment treaty arbitration and the WTO Dispute Settlement Body. The course provides the opportunity to consider the theory, politics and practical difficulties of international dispute resolution in these courts and tribunals. The course begins with a focus on the International Court of Justice, which is currently experiencing a surge in activity. We will examine the history, structure and jurisdiction of the Court before turning to questions arising with provisional measures, contentious cases and advisory opinions. The second half of the course examines a variety of other international courts and tribunals, such as the International Criminal Court, the European Court of Human Rights the WTO Dispute Settlement Body and investment treaty arbitration. There will be an opportunity to hear from guest speakers working in these different practice areas.
Teaching
2 hours of seminars in the Spring Term.
20 hours of seminars in the Autumn Term.
This course has a reading week in Week 6 of Autumn Term.
Formative assessment
1500 word formative essay.
Indicative reading
Reading lists will be provided for each week’s seminar on Moodle.
Indicative reading includes Karen Alter, The New Terrain of International Law: Courts, Politics, Rights (2014 Princeton); Gleider Hernández, The International Court of Justice and the Judicial Function (2014 OUP); Yuval Shany, ‘No Longer a Weak Department of Power? Reflections on the Emergence of a New International Judiciary’ (2009) 20(1) European Journal of International Law 73; Frederic Megret and Marika Giles Samson, ‘Holding the Line on Complementarity in Libya: the Case for Tolerating Flawed Domestic Trials’ (2013) 11 Journal of International Criminal Justice 571.
Assessment
Exam (100%), duration: 150 Minutes in the Spring exam period
Key facts
Department: LSE Law School
Course Study Period: Autumn and Spring Term
Unit value: Half unit
FHEQ Level: Level 7
CEFR Level: Null
Total students 2024/25: 32
Average class size 2024/25: 32
Controlled access 2024/25: YesCourse selection videos
Some departments have produced short videos to introduce their courses. Please refer to the course selection videos index page for further information.
For this course, please see the following link/s:
LL4E6 International Dispute Resolution: Courts and Tribunals Course Guide Video https://youtu.be/jnZLSUV1dgM
Personal development skills
- Communication
- Specialist skills