International law is the study of law in a global context. Unlike other law degrees that focus on the domestic legislation and regulations in specific countries, international law ensures justice through interstate agreements, guidelines and frameworks in domains such as human rights law, diplomacy, economic relations and war.
Studying international law will improve your legal knowledge and comprehension, as well as your understanding of the impact of politics, economics and current affairs on the global climate. A degree in international law offers the possibility of entering several well-paid legal, business, charitable and governmental careers globally and creating the foundations for career progression in a specialised role within a domestic legal firm. Subjects related to international law include diplomacy, international relations and law.
Studying international law typically takes one to three years, depending on your study destination, degree and study mode. In most countries, to practise as a lawyer, you must hold further qualifications or pass examinations in addition to your international law degree. For example, to use an international law degree to practise as a solicitor in the UK, you must either:
1. Study an international law undergraduate degree followed by a legal practice course (LPC)
2. Hold an undergraduate or postgraduate degree in international law in addition to passing a solicitor’s qualifying examination (SQE)
3. Study an undergraduate degree in any subject, followed by a graduate diploma in law (GDL), followed by a postgraduate degree in international law.
You will also need to register with the relevant representative body in the country you want to practise in, for example, the Australian Bar Association. International law can be studied as a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, postgraduate certificate, postgraduate diploma and at PhD level.
Remember, most law degrees will enable you to specialise in international law to some extent. Some international law specialisations include international finance law, international criminal law, international economic law, international energy law, human rights law, and climate change law.
To study international law abroad, you must meet basic entry requirements. At the undergraduate level, most institutions ask for:
1. Three A-Levels (or equivalent)
2. Grades equivalent to a minimum of ABB A-Level results/International Baccalaureate score of 34 points At the postgraduate level, you will likely need to have obtained at least a 2:1 in a relevant undergraduate degree.
3. Applicants for international law must usually have achieved an IELTS overall score of 6.5 (or equivalent).
Although prior work experience is not usually an entry requirement, professional experience related to international law may aid your application. Many students of international law also find it helpful to speak one or more foreign languages commonly used in law, such as Arabic, French, Russian or Spanish. Always check with your prospective university that your existing qualifications will be acceptable.
An international law degree is a great way to kickstart a well-paid legal, political, charitable or governmental career with plenty of scope for career progression and overseas work. Most international lawyers choose to specialise in either public international law (human rights legislation and international agreements between states) or private international law (cross-border transactions, contracts and dispute resolution between corporations and individuals).
With lawyers in the USA earning a median wage of USD 136,000 a year, experienced lawyers specialising in international law can often expect to earn much more than this. As an international lawyer, some of the settings you may find yourself working in include:
1. Armed forces
2. Charitable organisations and NGOs
3. Intergovernmental organisations (e.g. the UN or NATO)
4. International courts
5. Law firms
6. National governments
Some other roles you can fulfil with an international law degree include diplomat, mediator, and politician.