The Hague, the Netherlands – On a study visit last week, LL.M. in International Law participants had a unique opportunity to see live proceedings at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) led by Professor Marcelo Kohen, their instructor for the international adjudication module of the LL.M..  A prolific advocate before the ICJ, Prof. Kohen gave opening pleadings for Costa Rica in a dispute with its neighbor, Nicaragua, over respective activities on their shared border along the San Juan River.

Later that day, they witnessed a courtroom cross-examination in the same case—a rare occasion at the ICJ—of an expert cartography witness, in high-drama sessions led by a renowned attorney from the United States.  "Cross-examination is a rare but exciting event at the ICJ. Not only were the students fortunate to witness this particular courtroom episode, but they may also have had a glimpse into the future role of experts before the Court", says Jason Rudall, Programme Manager for the LL.M., who led the study trip.

Indeed, sometimes a trip is all about fortuitous timing.  The trip began with a first-day morning session led by the very freshly appointed President of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Judge Silvia Alejandra Fernandez de Gurmendi—who had just arrived off her flight from New York, following her first meeting with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon as President of the ICC.  Judge Fernandez spoke about the structure and leadership in the court, and graciously fielded a question-answer session from the LL.M. group.

Of course, not all activities in the Peace Palace call for high drama.  The group also had an opportunity to visit the Permanent Court of Arbitration, where Legal Counsel Fiona Poon gave a customised presentation to the participants, including an insight into the Yukos case in which the largest ever arbitration award was made last year.  Investment disputes like this are of particular interest to those participants of the LL.M. following the International Economic Law specialty stream, one of three options within the LL.M. curriculum, along with Environment, Energy and Natural Resources and Protection of Vulnerable Groups streams.

This three-day visit to The Hague is part of a broader series of practical institution visits, embedded in to the programme design of the LL.M. in International Law.  Previous visits included the Human Rights Council at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, as well as the United Nations Environment Programme and World Trade Organization.  Further building participant exposure, the LL.M. hosts a series of renowned experts throughout the 1-year course.