Researching Researching International LawInternational Law

Advanced Legal Research Advanced Legal Research November 7, 2006November 7, 2006

Marci HoffmanMarci HoffmanInternational & Foreign Law International & Foreign Law

LibrarianLibrarianmhoffman@law.berkeley.edumhoffman@law.berkeley.edu

OverviewOverview

DefinitionsDefinitions• Public International LawPublic International Law• Private International LawPrivate International Law• Foreign LawForeign Law• Comparative LawComparative Law

Sources of LawSources of Law

Getting StartedGetting Started

Find a relevant research guide.Find a relevant research guide. Define basic concepts or terms, Define basic concepts or terms,

abbreviations or acronyms.abbreviations or acronyms. Locate secondary sources (journal Locate secondary sources (journal

articles, books, reports).articles, books, reports).

Research GuidesResearch Guides

Introduction to International & ForeIntroduction to International & Foreign Legal Researchign Legal Research

ASIL Guide to Electronic ResourcesASIL Guide to Electronic Resources Guide to International Legal Guide to International Legal

ResearchResearch Germain’s Transnational Law Germain’s Transnational Law

ResearchResearch

Abbreviations & AcronymsAbbreviations & Acronyms

Bieber's Dictionary of Legal Bieber's Dictionary of Legal Abbreviations Abbreviations

World Dictionary of Legal World Dictionary of Legal AbbreviationsAbbreviations

Noble's International Guide to the Noble's International Guide to the Law ReportsLaw Reports

Cardiff Index to Legal AbbreviationCardiff Index to Legal Abbreviationss

Definitions & Definitions & Background InformationBackground Information

Encyclopedia of Public Encyclopedia of Public International LawInternational Law

Encyclopedia of the United NationsEncyclopedia of the United Nations Encyclopaedic Dictionary of Encyclopaedic Dictionary of

International Law International Law

Secondary SourcesSecondary Sources

Journal articlesJournal articles• Legal journal indexesLegal journal indexes

Index to Legal Periodicals Index to Legal Periodicals (ILP)(ILP) Legal Resource Index (LRI) (Legal Resource Index (LRI) (LegalTracLegalTrac) ) Legal Journals Index (LJI)Legal Journals Index (LJI) Index to Foreign Legal Periodicals (IFLP)Index to Foreign Legal Periodicals (IFLP)

• Law-related journal indexesLaw-related journal indexes (PAIS, (PAIS, Social Science Index, EconLit)Social Science Index, EconLit)

BooksBooks • LAWCATLAWCAT

International LawInternational Law

Locate international instruments Locate international instruments (treaty or agreement).(treaty or agreement).

Obtain IGO/NGO information Obtain IGO/NGO information (documents, conference (documents, conference proceedings).proceedings).

Find decisions of international courts Find decisions of international courts & tribunals.& tribunals.

Locate relevant commentary and Locate relevant commentary and analysis.analysis.

Treaties & AgreementsTreaties & Agreements

What are treaties?What are treaties? TypesTypes

• bilateralbilateral• multilateralmultilateral

US is a party US is a party Non-US treatiesNon-US treaties

Researching TreatiesResearching Treaties

LocateLocate• Text of the treaty or agreementText of the treaty or agreement• Status & ratification informationStatus & ratification information• Reservations or declarationsReservations or declarations• Implementing domestic legislationImplementing domestic legislation• Background documents or Background documents or

commentarycommentary Researching Treaties and AgreemeResearching Treaties and Agreeme

ntsnts

Treaty IndexesTreaty Indexes

U.S.U.S.• Treaties in ForceTreaties in Force

Treaty ActionsTreaty Actions

• United States Treaty IndexUnited States Treaty Index Bilateral (non-U.S.) & Multilateral Bilateral (non-U.S.) & Multilateral

• Multilateral Treaty CalendarMultilateral Treaty Calendar• United Nations Cumulative Treaty United Nations Cumulative Treaty

IndexIndex• Multilateral Treaties Deposited with thMultilateral Treaties Deposited with th

e Secretary Generale Secretary General

U.S. Treaty CollectionsU.S. Treaty Collections

Treaties and Other International Treaties and Other International Acts SeriesActs Series (T.I.A.S.) (T.I.A.S.)

United States Treaties and Other United States Treaties and Other International AgreementsInternational Agreements (U.S.T.) (U.S.T.)

Senate Treaty DocumentsSenate Treaty Documents (S. (S. Treaty Doc.)Treaty Doc.)

U.S. Treaty CollectionsU.S. Treaty Collections Dept. of StateDept. of State

• Treaty AffairsTreaty Affairs• Declassified Documents: International AgreemeDeclassified Documents: International Agreeme

ntsnts CongressCongress

• TreatiesTreaties• U.S. Senate Treaty DocumentsU.S. Senate Treaty Documents• ThomasThomas

Other DatabasesOther Databases• HeinOnlineHeinOnline: Treaties & Agreements Library: Treaties & Agreements Library• Treaties & International Agreements Treaties & International Agreements • LexisNexis and WestlawLexisNexis and Westlaw

Other National Treaty Other National Treaty CollectionsCollections

Australian Treaties LibraryAustralian Treaties Library French Treaty DatabaseFrench Treaty Database Hong Kong Treaty ProjectHong Kong Treaty Project Pacific Island Treaty SeriesPacific Island Treaty Series

Multilateral SourcesMultilateral Sources

United Nations Treaty SeriesUnited Nations Treaty Series (U.N.T.S.)(U.N.T.S.)

United Nations Treaty CollectionUnited Nations Treaty Collection European Treaty SeriesEuropean Treaty Series (ETS) (ETS) OAS TreatiesOAS Treaties International Legal MaterialsInternational Legal Materials (I.L.M) (I.L.M)

Topical Treaty CollectionsTopical Treaty Collections

Human Rights LibraryHuman Rights Library Intellectual Property Intellectual Property (WIPO)(WIPO) ILOLEXILOLEX (ILO) (ILO) Hague Conventions on Private InteHague Conventions on Private Inte

rnational Lawrnational Law Environmental Law InstrumentsEnvironmental Law Instruments

(UNEP)(UNEP)

Status & RatificationStatus & Ratification

Multilateral Treaties Deposited with Multilateral Treaties Deposited with the Secretary Generalthe Secretary General

Treaties in ForceTreaties in Force and and Treaty ActionsTreaty Actions Web sites Web sites

• SecretariatSecretariat• DepositoryDepository

Journal articlesJournal articles Treaty indexesTreaty indexes

Reservations & DeclarationsReservations & Declarations Reservation excludes or modifies the Reservation excludes or modifies the

legal effect of provisions. legal effect of provisions. Declaration clarifies a State's Declaration clarifies a State's position.position.

Some treaties do not allow reservatioSome treaties do not allow reservationsns..

SourcesSources• Multilateral Treaties Deposited with the Multilateral Treaties Deposited with the

Secretary GeneralSecretary General• Web sitesWeb sites

Hague ConventionsHague Conventions

Implementing LegislationImplementing Legislation

National legislation National legislation • New legislationNew legislation

DMCA implements two WIPO treaties DMCA implements two WIPO treaties

• Existing legislationExisting legislation Treaty SecretariatsTreaty Secretariats

• Chemical Weapons ConventionChemical Weapons Convention• Anti-Bribery ConventionAnti-Bribery Convention

Other InformationOther Information Background or intentBackground or intent

• Negotiation documentsNegotiation documents• Preparatory or preliminary documentsPreparatory or preliminary documents• Legislative historyLegislative history

Uruguay Round Agreements Act: A Uruguay Round Agreements Act: A Legislative History of Public Law no. Legislative History of Public Law no. 103-465103-465

See See À la À la RechercheRecherche des des TravauxTravaux PréparatoiresPréparatoires

Other InformationOther Information

InterpretationInterpretation• Decisions Decisions

International courts & tribunalsInternational courts & tribunals Domestic courtsDomestic courts

• Commentary & analysisCommentary & analysis Books, seeBooks, see A Commentary on the A Commentary on the

United Nations Convention on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the ChildRights of the Child

Journal articlesJournal articles

Inter-GovernmentalInter-GovernmentalOrganizations (IGOs)Organizations (IGOs)

Web sitesWeb sites• UN documentsUN documents• GATT/WTO documentsGATT/WTO documents

Interesting web resourcesInteresting web resources• Investment Treaties (UNCTAD)Investment Treaties (UNCTAD)

Print documentsPrint documents

Non-Governmental Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs)Organizations (NGOs)

Web sitesWeb sites• Human RightsHuman Rights

Amnesty International Amnesty International

• EnvironmentEnvironment Basel Action NetworkBasel Action Network

Interesting web resources Interesting web resources • IATPIATP

The Treaty Database OnlineThe Treaty Database Online

European Union European Union

Researching EU Law Researching EU Law EUROPAEUROPA EUR-Lex (EU Law Portal)EUR-Lex (EU Law Portal) Print sourcesPrint sources LexisNexis & WestlawLexisNexis & Westlaw

International Courts & International Courts & TribunalsTribunals

International Court of JusticeInternational Court of Justice• ICJ Research GuideICJ Research Guide

International Courts & Tribunals PrInternational Courts & Tribunals Projectoject

Projects on International Courts & Projects on International Courts & TribunalsTribunals

WorldLII: International Courts & WorldLII: International Courts & TribunalsTribunals

International Law SitesInternational Law Sites

Electronic Information System for IElectronic Information System for International Lawnternational Law

Foreign and International Law WebForeign and International Law Web Foreign and International ResourceForeign and International Resource

s: An Annotated Guide to Web Ress: An Annotated Guide to Web Resourcesources

Current StuffCurrent Stuff

International Law in BriefInternational Law in Brief ASIL InsightsASIL Insights BlogsBlogs

• Opinio Juris Opinio Juris • GrotianGrotian

Moment: The Saddam Hussein Trial Moment: The Saddam Hussein Trial BlogBlog

Last WordsLast Words

International legal materials come International legal materials come from a variety of sources & they are from a variety of sources & they are not always well organized.not always well organized.

Not all international documents are Not all international documents are available on the web.available on the web.

Commentary and analysis generally Commentary and analysis generally not available on the web.not available on the web.

Need to use a combination of print Need to use a combination of print and electronic sources.and electronic sources.