Advanced LL.M. in Public International Law

''THE LL.M AT THE DOORSTEPS OF INTERNATIONAL COURTS AND TRIBUNALS''

Each year approximately twenty to thirty students from all over the world join the LL.M. (adv.) Programme in Public International Law. For one year they become fellows of the student community of the oldest University in the Netherlands and in one of the most prestigious academic institutions in Europe. The LL.M. (adv.) Programme in Public International Law has been designed to provide a flexible framework for graduate study in public international law and is of particular interest to participants wishing to pursue a career in international organisations, governmental institutions, international non-governmental organisations or within an academic setting. Practitioners in the private sector, e.g. international trade and finance and transnational litigation, will likewise benefit from the programme. Staff members of embassies, of international organisations or other interested individuals working in The Hague may be offered the opportunity to participate in the programme on a part-time basis.

Students meeting with Appeals Chamber Judge Georghios Pikis at the ICC

I. Programme

Type of programme: Full-time or part-time
Duration: One year (if full-time), start in September
Entry Requirements: Full degree in law (offering access to legal practice) with sufficient knowledge of public international law, or equivalent degree and/or sufficient professional experience in the field, at the discretion of the Board of Admissions.

Based both in Leiden and The Hague, this unique LL.M. programme offers a forum for intensive, high-level postgraduate study in public international law, with specialisations in Peace, Justice and Development, and International Criminal Law.

Tailor-made courses for advanced students and professionals
Personalised seminar style teaching
Lectures by practitioners and experts from judicial institutions (ICC, ICJ) and distinguished academics from the Leiden Law School
Close integration with international legal institutions and the legal community in The Hague

The programme is both foundational and specialised, allowing students to focus on areas of individual interest.

Visit to the ICTY

General Courses

Public International Law
International Institutional Law
International Dispute Settlement
International Humanitarian Law
International Human Rights Law

Specialisations treat themes such as:

Peace, Justice and Development International Criminal Law

International Relations International Criminal Trials

Peace and Security International Crimes

International Economic Law      Individual Criminal Responsibility

Sustainable Development    Law and Practice of the ICC

United Nations System    International Criminal Procedure

International Criminal Justice   Advocacy and Criminal Litigation

II. Teaching

Our current Leiden staff includes:

Prof. Nico J. Schrijver (Public International Law)
Prof. Niels Blokker (International Institutional Law)
Prof. Horst Fischer (International Humanitarian Law)
Dr. Larissa van den Herik (International Crimes)
Dr. Carsten Stahn (International Criminal Law)

Past and present lecturers include:

Prof. John Dugard (International Law Commission)
Judge Thomas Buergenthal (ICJ)
Judge Bruno Simma (ICJ)
Judge Elizabeth Odio-Benito (ICC)
Judge Ekaterina Trendafilova (ICC)
Judge Christine van den Wyngaert (ICTY)
Prof. Hugh Thirlway (formerly Principal Secretary ICJ)

Students meeting with ICC Judge Elizabeth Odio-Benito

III. Voices on the programme

"The Programme, ideally located in The Hague, offers students the unique opportunity to have a face-to-face conversation with Judges and other people working in International Criminal Justice".

Judge Elizabeth Odio-Benito, International Criminal Court

"This is an excellent programme. It is a pleasure to meet such dedicated professors and talented students from all parts of the world and to discuss criminal law and ICC procedure with them at the Court or at Campus Den Haag".

Judge Ekaterina Trendafilova, International Criminal Court

"As an LL.M. Adv. graduate, it is wonderful to meet new generations of interns and professionals from Leiden at the Tribunal each year".

Thomas Wayde Pittman, Senior Legal Officer, ICTY

"After my LL.M., I started to work for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia and was involved in ICJ proceedings".

Nino Tsereteli, LL.M. Adv. (2007-2008)

"The LL.M. Adv.'s academic and professional training proved to be crucial in a competitive environment like London".

Matthias Vanhullebusch, LL.M. Adv. (2006-2007), LL.D. Candidate SOAS London

IV. Academic information on course contents

Dr. Carsten Stahn, Programme Director

E-mail: c.stahn@law.leidenuniv.nl. Phone: +31 (0)6-46755751

For a detailed description of our programme, the courses and application procedure, please visit the LLM Advanced website of Leiden University.