How to study international law?

If you want to become something, there is a procedure to do that for everything. If you want to pursue a career, you have to get a particular degree. You just need to be clear on what is it exactly that you want. On that line, there are a lot of people who want to become lawyers and fight for justice. But there are many fields of expertise for lawyers as well, one of which is international laws. In order to become an international lawyer, you have to follow the career path defined by the legal services network.

Let us first understand what is international law.

Definition of international law

International law is a combination of different rules, principles, treaties, etc. that define and maintain the relationship between any two countries to benefit the entire world and the citizens of the countries involved. The functions that international law deals with are coordinating, regulatory and protective. All this is made to protect the disruption of any violent or destructive conflict among various countries of the world.

Requirements for becoming an international lawyer

Students who desire to become an international lawyer need to score high CGPA in the History and Social Sciences, with fluency in English. In case the native language of the student is not English, then he/she can take the TOEFL, IELTS or some other equivalent examination and score good marks to be accepted by the good universities teaching international law to their students. It is very important to get into a good college or university. Following are some of the career requirements for becoming an international lawyer:

1. A Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree or Masters of Laws (LL.M.) for international business

2. Bachelors’ in pre-law or other majors from a law school

3. Compulsory to clear the state bar examination

4. Experienced is not a must but you must be a licensed lawyer who can apply for LL.M. degree

5. The skills required include critical thinking, analytical reasoning, good negotiation skills, research and writing ability. All these skills will be combined with the formal training provided to the lawyers.

6. You also need to have a good knowledge and grip over some software like Microsoft Office, accounting software, project management tools, legal search engines and other software as per the requirements.

Process of becoming an international lawyer

The process to achieve your goal of becoming an international lawyer or studying international law involves some crucial steps such as:

1. A graduation degree: A graduation degree is a must for pursuing any reputed career path. In order to attend a law school, it is mandatory to complete your graduate program in any field. There is no specific field of study required for graduation in order to join a law school, but a degree in international studies can prove to be beneficial as it helps you to understand the issues beforehand. Having knowledge of more than just one language will be counted as a plus point. So consider learning some new foreign languages. Prepare for your LSAT (Law School Admission Test). A good score in LSAT is a must to apply for law school and you also have to submit your LSAT scores with your application forms.

2. Complete your LSAT: Once you are a graduate, take your LSAT and good scores in it. It is a half-day examination that focuses on your analytical, critical reasoning and reading skills.

3. Go for your law school: After completing LSAT and getting into your desired law school, attend and complete your law degree. The courses at the law school are a three-year program which is to be done full-time. You also get a chance to elect a subject of your choice in the final year so that you can get your expertise through internships or experiences. The study of international law includes studying comparative law, foreign policy, comparative legal cultures, international trade, and business laws, etc. Start preparing for your bar examinations while you are in your law school if you really want to practice. You can also go for preparatory courses provided by many private companies.

4. Bar examination: Once you are done with your law school, take the bar examination. The format of bar examinations varies from state to state and it can also go on for a few days. You need to be theoretically and mentally prepared for the examination as it is your chance to practice as a lawyer and put all your hard work to use.

5. Work as an international lawyer: After passing your bar examination, try to get in contact with the legal services network to practice international law. There are multiple governments and private agencies that hire lawyers for their firm. Joining these agencies will also provide you access to the global law firm network.

6. Earn an LL.M: LL.M adds to your knowledge and degrees helping you to get in touch with better agencies and clients. It adds to your portfolio. There are many law schools that offer LL.M courses to licensed lawyers. Try and get your LL.M in international law and increase your repute, expertise, and experience.