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Simple English definitions for legal terms

international law

Read a random definition: lex terrae

A quick definition of international law:

International law is a set of rules that govern how countries interact with each other, as well as how countries and individuals interact. It includes different areas of law, such as economic, security, criminal, environmental, diplomatic, and human rights law. The sources of international law are customary law, which is when countries follow certain practices consistently, and conventional law, which comes from international agreements. International law applies to countries and increasingly to individuals and international organizations. In the United States, international law is only a part of U.S. law when it comes to international rights and duties, but it does not restrict the U.S. from making its own laws for its own territory.

A more thorough explanation:

International law refers to the set of rules and principles that govern the relationships and interactions between nations, as well as between states and individuals, and international organizations. It covers issues related to rights, obligations, and responsibilities of nations and individuals in the international community.

International law includes various fields such as:

These fields cover different aspects of international relations, such as trade, security, crime, environment, diplomacy, war, and human rights.

The primary sources of international law are customary law and conventional law. Customary international law is based on the consistent practices of states out of a sense of legal obligation. Conventional international law is derived from international agreements, such as treaties, and is binding on the parties that have agreed to it.

International agreements create law for the parties involved, and customary law and laws made by international agreements have equal authority as international law. General principles that are common to national legal systems can also be a secondary source of international law.

Traditionally, individual countries were the main subjects of international law. However, individuals and non-state international organizations have also become subject to international regulation. The United States typically respects the laws of other nations, unless there is some statute or treaty to the contrary. International law is typically a part of U.S. law only for the application of its principles on questions of international rights and duties.

International law can be illustrated by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which sets out the legal framework for the use of the world's oceans and their resources. This convention is an example of conventional international law, as it was agreed upon by the parties involved. It also illustrates the domain of international environmental law, as it deals with the protection and conservation of the marine environment.

international humanitarian law | International Monetary Fund

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@SpectacularDefiantMouse: yeah, like condemnedpuffygnome, I'm not really preparing for law school by taking some courses or anything like that. The only way I'm going to be preparing is by getting myself into a rhythm schedule-wise, well enough in advance of the first day of classes, that I think will be necessary for me to do well 1L.
I'm very much not in rhythm now. lol. But I've 3-ish months.
19:55
@Silver: Cost of attendance is what matters. $37K in-state tuition = $47K sticker price with a $10K scholarship elsewhere, $70K sticker with a $40K scholarship is better than either, $40K sticker with a $0 scholarship worse than both.
19:55
(Assuming placement etc. is comparable)
Congrats on Harvard, jb2028. Any reason you applied to A&M but not Texas at Austin? Seems odd.
19:58
@BankruptcyAndRestructuringLawIsCool: Family connection, they gave me a CAS waiver so it was free
Question for the chat about judicial internships (not externships). My understanding is that judicial internships (as opposed to externships) during the summer are unpaid. How, then, do people who get them pay living expenses during the summer? Do they just make loans stretch for 12 months when they're only meant for 9? I heard that some people supplement the internship with, e.g., a research assistant position with a law professor. But would such a person both do the internship and the RA position at the same time? And if so, is that too much work or feasible?
I don't know what the workload is really like for judicial internships and RA positions.
Also curious what other things people might do to supplement an unpaid judicial internship over the summer with something paid.
20:20
@BankruptcyAndRestructuringLawIsCool: Many schools will provide some type of stipend for unpaid summer roles with a public interest employer (defined broadly, often includes any gov or judicial job)
Right, I thought so. At BU, though, it appears that what's called BU's public interest project grant is not available to supplement judicial internships. And I think its public service summer funding is also limited. Oh well.
21:13
@BankruptcyAndRestructuringLawIsCool: FWIW they allude to some type of funding ("BU Law has implemented separate funding sources for judicial interns") in this packet https://www.bu.edu/law/files/2023/11/Public-Service-Summer-Funding-Applicant-Packet-2024.pdf
21:13
Although they don't give details, and as you note they don't guarantee funding to everyone (which is in line with other $ they offer, e.g. the LRAP)
21:14
Anyone know how hard it is to do pro bono work as a 1L for judges or fed gov in general in the D.C. market
21:14
Idk much about pro bono opportunities period but thinking I wanna try to get some work experience as soon as humanly possible
21:14
When I begin law school I mean
21:15
Lines up with BU's limited endowment: $81K per student a few years ago, i.e., enough to support a payout of about $3,250 per student per year at a 4% payout rate https://leiterlawschool.typepad.com/leiter/2022/05/per-student-value-of-law-school-endowments-2021.html
21:17
Seems like they're trying to compete with other schools on program headlines (we fund X, Y, and Z and we have an LRAP) but the endowment can't really support that, so they have all these programs but don't guarantee funding. Would not rely on that if you have alternatives.
Thanks for those links. I'll give the public service summer funding information packet, in particular, a careful read. But yeah, your takeaway seems right.
KnowledgeableRitzyWasp
22:33
i could really use some fried chicken right now
KnowledgeableRitzyWasp
22:34
kfc or popeyes
KnowledgeableRitzyWasp
22:34
or korean with gochujang
KnowledgeableRitzyWasp
22:35
i might order some gochujang sauce on amazon and cook some air fried chicken breast filets, they’re really good
KnowledgeableRitzyWasp
22:35
just letting you guys know :)
0:14
Where I can find the definition of the false-endowment?
11:14
@Mohammed: False-endowment?
12:05
guys, im making a public speaking with the topic of personal choice in nuisance. Can you give me what to talk about
babybunny
12:47
what does this mean? you get to pick a topic but it has to be about nuisances?
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