May 11, 2011Lucie Olejnikova

Teaching International Law Beyond Classroom Event at Pace & Discussion on the Legality of Killing bin Laden

On May 6, 2011, ASIL (American Society of International Law) Teaching International Law Interest Group and Pace Law School hosted a conference titled Teaching International Law Beyond Classroom: Engaging Students in Experiential Learning, in Web 2.0, and in Historical and Empirical Research, which was held at the New York State Judicial Institute at Pace Law School. Prof. Cindy Buys from Southern Illinois University School of Law and Prof. Thomas McDonnell from Pace University School of Law, with the help of many others, have done an excellent job in planning this very well-attended all day event.

Four sessions were held throughout the day with a bonus discussion during the lunch time.  In the morning frist session. moderated by Adjunct Prof. Mark Shulman, Professors Cindy Buys from Southern Illinois University School of Law, Julian Ku (attending virtually from Singapore) from Hofstra University School of Law, Tom Lee from Fordham University School of Law, and Jordan Paust from University of Houston School of Law addressed the importance and use of historical research in the course of teaching international law and how to interest and include students in carrying out historical research.  In the second session moderated by Prof. McDonnell,  Professors Beth Simmons from Harvard University and Laura Dickinson from Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University engaged the audience in a discussion about conducting and the use of qualitative as well as quantitative empirical research in teaching international law and involving students in the pursuit.

In the afternoon, Prof. Greenawalt led a panel discussion about employing Web 2.0 in International law teaching and scholarship, when Professors Peggy McGuiness from St. John’s University School of Law, Vikki Rogers from Pace University School of Law, and J. Anthony VanDuzer from University of Ottawa School of Law introduced a number of various opportunities for faculty and students that Web 2.0 offers in the course of teaching international law.  The last session of the day, moderated by Prof. Vanessa Merton, featured a discussion on how to engage students in experiential learning in international law. Professors Raquel Aldana from McGeorge School of Law, Sital Kalantry from Cornell Law School, Sean O’Brian from Notre Dame School of Law, and Robert Van Lierop, former Permanent Representative to the U.N. for Vanuatu and the founding chair of the Alliance of Small Island States, discussed their involvement in legal clinics, internships and externships available to students at law schools.

If you missed the conference, the sessions were archived and are available for review.  The two morning sessions, Conducting Historical Research in International Law & Involving Students in the Enterprise and Conducting Empirical Research in International Law & Involving Students in the Pursuit, are available here.  [The introductory remarks begin at 00:08 min.; Session I begins at 0:14:35 min.; Session II begins at 1:58:35 min.].  The two sessions of the afternoon, Employing Web 2.0 in International Law Teaching & Scholarship and engaging Students in Experiential Learning in International Law, are available here.  [Introductory remarks begin at 00:06 min.; Session III begins at 0:45 min.; Session IV begins at 1:12:40 min.].

Given the international events of last week, the presenters engaged in a timely debate about whether killing of Mr. Osama bin Laden was legal.  The discussion was recorded and you may view it here.  Additional reading:

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