United Nations Law and Practice

Subject LAWS40011 (2011)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2011.

Credit Points: 12.50
Level: 4 (Undergraduate)
Dates & Locations:

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2011:

February, Parkville - Taught on campus.
Pre-teaching Period Start not applicable
Teaching Period not applicable
Assessment Period End not applicable
Last date to Self-Enrol not applicable
Census Date not applicable
Last date to Withdraw without fail not applicable

To be taught intensively over the summer semester.

Timetable can be viewed here. For information about these dates, click here.
Time Commitment: Contact Hours: To be taught intensively over the summer semester.
Total Time Commitment: 144 hours.
Prerequisites:

Principles of Public Law or equivalent.
Corequisites: None.
Recommended Background Knowledge: None.
Non Allowed Subjects: None.
Core Participation Requirements: For the purposes of considering requests for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills, and Assessment Requirements of this entry.

The University is dedicated to providing support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit website: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/.

Coordinator

Assoc Prof Bruce Oswald

Contact

Melbourne Law School Student Centre
Email: law-studentcentre@unimelb.edu.au
Tel: +61 3 8344 4475
Subject Overview:

The United Nations is probably the boldest experiment in international relations in the modern era. It is a body of critical importance in the international political and legal arena, particularly with respect to its primary purposes of maintaining international peace and security; maintaining friendly relations among nations; facilitating international cooperation and providing a centre for harmonizing the actions of nations in achieving these common ends. This subject aims to give students an understanding of the UN's role, structure and operation, from both a legal and a practical standpoint. To this end, the subject will examine the law and operation of the UN with reference to relevant case studies, using these examples to illustrate the successes and failures of the UN since its inception, and as a basis for examining the challenges that the UN may face in the future.
Objectives:

On completion of the subject, students should have a clear understanding of the following specific areas:

  • The history and evolution of the United Nations;
  • The structure of the United Nations;
  • The United Nations Charter;
  • The inter-relationship between the major United Nations organs and committees;
  • The law and practice of the General Assembly;
  • The law and practice of the Security Council;
  • The role of the UN Secretary-General.
Assessment: Students can choose to be assessed by ONE of the following two options:

OPTION 1

A 3-hour written open-book examination worth 100% of the final mark for the subject.

OPTION 2

A 5,000 word research essay worth 100% of the final mark for the subject, and due at the end of the Summer Semester.

IN ADDITION

All students must satisfy a hurdle requirement of attending at least 80% of the seminars.
Prescribed Texts: Printed materials will be available from the Melbourne Law School.
Recommended Texts:
  • Bruce Oswald, Helen Durham, and Adrian Bates, Documents on the Law of UN Peace Operations (2010);
  • Simon Chesterman, Tom Franck, and David Malone, Law and Practice of the United Nations: Documents and Commentary (2008).
Breadth Options:

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.
Fees Information: Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date
Generic Skills:

On completion of this subject, students should have further developed the following generic skills:

  • Interpretation and analysis of international legal instruments;
  • Interpretation and analysis of international legal decisions.
Notes: The essay in this subject is regarded as a substantial piece of legal writing.

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