International Courts and Tribunals: Law and Practice WP-PR-MON-ICTLP
The seminar develops students’ understanding of the origins and evolution of international adjudication, as well as the key concepts, assumptions and principles governing the functioning of international courts and tribunals, including the principle of consent, jurisdiction and the judicial function. It enables a deeper insight into the structure of contemporary international adjudication, its institutional diversity and selected examples of courts and tribunals, such as the International Court of Justice, international criminal tribunals and regional human rights courts. The seminar also includes the analysis of selected procedural mechanisms (e.g., interim measures) and the study of major cases - both concluded and pending - such as cases concerning genocide or emerging areas including climate‑related litigation. It encourages reflection on the legitimacy of international adjudication, its role in the contemporary world, the challenges it faces and its future. The seminar is taught in English and aims to develop students’ knowledge of professional legal terminology and their ability to analyse English‑language sources of international law.
(in Polish) Dyscyplina naukowa, do której odnoszą się efekty uczenia się
(in Polish) E-Learning
(in Polish) Grupa przedmiotów ogólnouczenianych
Course coordinators
(in Polish) Opis nakładu pracy studenta w ECTS
Term 2025/26_L: Participation in the seminar: 15 h
Preparation to the classes, including getting acquainted and analyzing the recommended sources: 40 h
Preparation of a paper: 30 h
Preparation for the test: 15 h
Total hours: 100h
ECTS number: 100h / 25 = 4 ECTS
| Term 2026/27_L: Participation in the seminar: 15 h
Preparation to the classes, including getting acquainted and analyzing the recommended sources in Eng.: 40 h
Preparation of a presentation in Eng.: 30 h
Preparation for the test: 15 h
Total hours: 100h
ECTS number: 100h / 25 = 4 ECTS
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Subject level
Learning outcome code/codes
Type of subject
Preliminary Requirements
Learning outcomes
CLO 1: Student identifies and explains key concepts, origins and the evolution of international adjudication, using appropriate English language legal terminology.
CLO 2: Student analyses the judicial function, jurisdiction, consent and procedural foundations of international courts and tribunals, correctly applying English language terminology and working with relevant legal sources.
CLO 3. Student characterises the institutional architecture and diversity of contemporary international courts and tribunals, demonstrating the ability to interpret and discuss English language institutional documents and materials.
CLO 4. Student analyses selected international courts and tribunals and their landmark cases, evaluating their contribution to the development of international law on the basis of English language case law and academic literature.
CLO 5. Student critically assesses the achievements, challenges and future directions of international adjudication, formulating arguments and reflections in English and using specialised terminology and relevant jurisprudence.
Assessment criteria
To obtain a grade “dostateczny” (3,0), the student meets all of the following criteria:
- identifies basic key concepts and provides a general explanation of the origins and evolution of international adjudication, using basic English language legal terminology
- presents a basic analysis of the judicial function, jurisdiction, state consent and procedural foundations of international courts and tribunals, using basic English language legal sources and terminology
- describes the main elements of the typology and diversity of contemporary international courts and tribunals, using basic English language terminology and interpreting selected English language sources
- presents a basic analysis of selected international courts and tribunals and their landmark cases, indicating their general impact on the development of international law on the basis of basic English language materials
- identifies in a basic manner the significance, achievements, challenges and future directions of international adjudication, formulating simple reflections in English using basic international law terminology.
To obtain a grade “dostateczny +” (3,5), the student meets all criteria for a grade ”dostateczny” and part of the criteria for a grade “dobry”.
To obtain a grade “dobry” (4,0), the student meets all of the following criteria:
- correctly identifies and explains key concepts as well as the origins and evolution of international adjudication, using appropriate English language legal terminology
- with partial guidance from the instructor, analyses the judicial function, jurisdiction, state consent and procedural foundations of international courts and tribunals, using appropriate English language legal sources and terminology
- correctly describes in English the typology and diversity of contemporary international courts and tribunals, using appropriate English language terminology and interpreting English language institutional documents and materials
- correctly analyses selected international courts and tribunals and their landmark cases, presenting in English a justified assessment of their contribution to the development of international law on the basis of English language case law and academic literature
- correctly evaluates the significance, achievements, challenges and future directions of international adjudication, formulating clear and well structured arguments in English using appropriate international law terminology.
To obtain a grade “dobry +” (4,5), the student meets all criteria for a grade ”dobry” and part of the criteria for a grade “bardzo dobry”.
To obtain a grade “bardzo dobry” (5,0), the student meets all of the following criteria:
- provides an in depth identification and explanation of key concepts as well as the origins and evolution of international adjudication, using English language international law terminology with ease
- conducts an in depth analysis of the judicial function, jurisdiction, state consent and procedural foundations of international courts and tribunals, accurately using diverse English language legal sources and terminology
- provides a detailed characterisation of the typology and diversity of contemporary international courts and tribunals, using specialised English language terminology and interpreting complex English language institutional documents and materials
- conducts an in depth analysis of selected international courts and tribunals and their landmark cases, presenting in English a comprehensive and well substantiated assessment of their contribution to the development of international law based on English language case law and academic literature
- formulates an in depth, critical evaluation of the significance, achievements, challenges and future directions of international adjudication, presenting precise, logical and substantively rich arguments in English using international law terminology.
Bibliography
1) The Oxford handbook of international adjudication, eds. Cesare Romano, Karen J Alter, Yuval Shany, Oxford University Press 2014 (chapters: 1, 3, 4, 8-15, 20-21, 23)
Additional Readings
2) Research Handbook on International Courts and Tribunals, William A. Schabas, Shannonbrooke Murphy, Edward Elgar Publishing 2017 (Introduction, chapters 9-11)
Additional information
Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system: