SCHOOL OF LAW
MODULE CODE: LAW9034
MODULE TITLE: Foundations of International Law
LEVEL: LLM
YEAR: 2024-25
ASSESSMENT: Main Assessment
Instructions to Students
Question to Answer: You must attempt ONE of the two questions
Date for Submission: 6 January 2025 12pm (midday)
This assignment counts for 100% of the marks for this module.
The Assessment criteria will be based upon the relevant learning outcomes outlined for this module.
All assignments are designed to assist learners to develop their professional competence. A questioning, analytical approach with emphasis on good research is encouraged throughout.Special care must be taken with your communication skills, and the logical structure of your work, therefore you should take time to plan before you begin writing.
Please refer to the Lincoln Law School marking rubric on Blackboard to help you understand how your work will be marked, and what is expected.
For advice and support with approaching your assessments, please consider the online resources available, or for support with academic writing you can access the Library’s Writing Development sessions, including booking one-to-one meetings for writing and referencing support.
REQUIREMENTS FOR SUBMITTING YOUR WORK
- Formatting: your answer should use double spacing, and a font of a similar size to Times New Roman, Arial or Calibri 12 point.
- Word Limit: your submission should consist of NO MORE THAN 4,000 words:
- Do NOT count footnotes or bibliography in your calculation.
- You must state the exact number of words contained in your submission at the beginning of your document.
- Anonymity: the file name of your submission must be your examination ID (e.g. 9876542), which can be found on your student ID card. Do not include your name or student number anywhere in the file name or the body of the document.
- Referencing: all sources used must be acknowledged and referenced. Footnotes should be used for references but should not contain substantial material or discussion. You must use the OSCOLA referencing system. The Library has produced a very helpful OSCOLA guide for you to follow.
- Bibliography: A bibliography must follow the main body of your work. The bibliography should also comply with the OSCOLA system. Access the OSCOLA guide link above to also find an example bibliography for your reference.
- Submitting: you must submit an electronic copy of your answer through the Turnitin submission portal in the “assignment” folder of the module site on Blackboard. No hard copies are required. Follow the online submitting assessments guidance page if you need assistance, but note the requirements under ‘Anonymity’ above.
PENALTIES – IMPORTANT: READ CAREFULLY
- Late Submissions: please note 10 marks will be deducted for each day (or part of a day) that the work is late. A submission will be deemed late if it is received through Turnitin after the submission deadline on the cover page above.
- Exceeding Word Limit: a penalty of 10 marks will be invoked for exceeding the word limit stated above by more than 10%. However, please also note:
- Submissions under the word limit are likely to be incomplete and will not have addressed the issues in sufficient depth; and
- Submissions over the word limit are likely to lack precision and will show an inability to communicate concepts and arguments concisely.
EXTENSIONS AND MITIGATING CIRCUMSTANCES
Full details of the University’s extension and mitigating circumstances can be found on the University website, or through the Law School site on Blackboard, together with links to the relevant forms. However, please note the following:
- Extensions: must be submitted in OneUni at least one working day before the assessment deadline and must be supported by evidence. Extensions cannot be granted for live assessments or exams / TCAs; and
- Mitigating Circumstances: must be submitted through OneUni no later than 10 working days after the assessment deadline has passed and must be supported by evidence. This process applies to all assessments.
ACADEMIC OFFENCES
The use of dishonest means in assessments is considered an Academic Offence and is treated seriously by the University. Academic Offences can be committed in a range of ways, and these are listed and explained on the Academic Offences webpage. It’s important that you familiarise yourself with the different offences to ensure you do not commit one in your work. This is particularly important for law students, as the legal regulators may bar you from entry to the legal profession if you have been found to commit one of these offences.
You are reminded that copying work from any source without full referencing, or using generative AI without proper referencing (see the Lincoln Law School AI Guide), paraphrasing tools, or any other software, program, or tool to pass off the work of another as your own constitutes an Academic Offence. The University has a range of tools to assist us in the detection of Academic Offences.
YOUR ASSESSMENT INSTRUCTIONS FOLLOW ON THE NEXT PAGE
PLEASE ANSWER ONE OF THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:
QUESTION ONE
“The demise of custom as a source of international law has been widely forecasted.This is because both the nature and the relative importance of custom`s constituent elements are contentious.”
(Anthea Elizabeth Roberts, ‘Traditional and Modern Approaches to Customary International Law: A Reconciliation’ (2001) 95 AJIL 757)
Critically analyse this statement.
QUESTION TWO
‘The ICJ advisory opinion of 19 July 2024 on the Legal consequences arising from the policies and practices of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Including East Jerusalem illustrates the important legal consequences of the breach of obligations arising from peremptory rules of international law for third States.’
Critically analyse this statement.
