International Law unit (LAW102)

Cradle Coast, Hobart, Launceston, Online

Introduction

Public international law permeates most areas of Australian law and it is therefore essential for law graduates to have a solid grounding in the sources and methodology of international law. This unit develops students' understanding of the sources of international law, state responsibility, international dispute settlement, and treaty making. It introduces students to specific fields of international law, including international humanitarian law, environmental, human rights and indigenous issues, the Antarctic Treaty system, the use of force and the relationship between international and Australian law. The unit fosters students' interest and engagement with international law by exploring links with a range of contemporary contentious political issues both nationally and internationally. A key component of the unit is to introduce and practise a range of fundamental legal research skills that are essential to investigating International Law studies and wider legal studies.

Summary

Unit name	International Law
Unit code	LAW102
Credit points	12.5
College/School	Arts and Society Faculty of Law
Discipline	Law
Coordinator	Professor Tim McCormack
Available as an elective?	Yes
Delivered By	University of Tasmania
Level	Introductory

Availability

Location	Study period	Attendance options		Available to
Cradle Coast	Semester 2
Hobart	Semester 2
Launceston	Semester 2
Online	Semester 2

Note

Please check that your computer meets the minimum System Requirements if you are attending via Distance/Off-Campus.

Units are offered in attending mode unless otherwise indicated (that is attendance is required at the campus identified). A unit identified as offered by distance, that is there is no requirement for attendance, is identified with a nominal enrolment campus. A unit offered to both attending students and by distance from the same campus is identified as having both modes of study.

Key Dates

Study Period	Start date	Census date	WW date	End date
Semester 2	5/7/2026	27/7/2026	30/8/2026	24/10/2026

* The Final WW Date is the final date from which you can withdraw from the unit without academic penalty, however you will still incur a financial liability (refer to How do I withdraw from a unit? for more information).

Unit census dates currently displaying for 2026 are indicative and subject to change. Finalised census dates for 2026 will be available from the 1st October 2025. Note census date cutoff is 11.59pm AEST (AEDT during October to March).

About Census Dates

Learning Outcomes

• Identify and describe sources, principles and methodology of international law and its relationship to Australian law, with focus on use of force, human rights, international environmental law and international humanitarian law.
• Critically analyse contemporary international law problems.
• Communicate legal argument on public international law issues i in an introductory law essay.
• Identify and locate primary and secondary legal materials required to answer specific questions of law

Fee Information

Field of Education	Commencing Student Contribution 1,3	Grandfathered Student Contribution 1,3	Approved Pathway Course Student Contribution 2,3	Domestic Full Fee 4
090909	$2,174.00	$1,703.00	not applicable	$2,249.00

• Available as a Commonwealth Supported Place
• HECS-HELP is available on this unit, depending on your eligibility³
• FEE-HELP is available on this unit, depending on your eligibility⁴

¹ Please refer to more information on student contribution amounts.
² Please refer to more information on eligibility and Approved Pathway courses.
³ Please refer to more information on eligibility for HECS-HELP.
⁴ Please refer to more information on eligibility for FEE-HELP.

If you have any questions in relation to the fees, please contact UniConnect or more information is available on StudyAssist.

Please note: international students should refer to What is an indicative Fee? to get an indicative course cost.

Requisites

Mutual Exclusions

You cannot enrol in this unit as well as the following:

LAW254

Teaching

Teaching Pattern	Lecture: 2 hour weekly face-to-face (but also available to online students synchronously and recorded and available on MyLo) Tutorial/Workshop: 1 hours weekly face-to-face (and also one tutorial online) (commencing in Week 2 of semester)
Assessment	Assessment Task 1: Multichoice test on sources of international law (10%)|Assessment Task 2: Multichoice test on sources of international law (10%)|Assessment Task 3: Video-recorded presentation (40%)|Assessment Task 4: Invigilated exam (open book) (40%)
Timetable	View the lecture timetable | View the full unit timetable

Textbooks

Required	The textbook for LAW102 is Anthony Cassimatis, Public International Law (Oxford University Press, 2021) Relevant chapters of the book for each week's lectures and tutorials are listed in MyLo

The University reserves the right to amend or remove courses and unit availabilities, as appropriate.