This advanced, practice-focused seminar examines how the United States collaborates with foreign governments, international organizations, and multinational entities to combat terrorism across borders. The course explores the legal frameworks that enable and constrain cooperation in intelligence sharing, joint military operations, extradition, financial enforcement, and counterterrorism investigations.
Students will analyze how lawyers advise U.S. agencies, foreign partners, multinational corporations, and NGOs in navigating complex legal regimes, including domestic statutes, international law, and bilateral agreements. The course focuses on operational realities—where legal decisions must be made quickly while balancing sovereignty, human rights, and national security objectives.
The seminar treats international counterterrorism cooperation as a high-stakes legal and diplomatic practice, where coordination failures can have significant consequences. Students will develop practical skills in cross-border legal analysis, risk assessment, and strategic advising.
This course assumes prior study of national security law, international law, or criminal law.
Course Objectives
By the end of the course, students should be able to:
1. Understand U.S. legal frameworks for international counterterrorism cooperation.
2. Analyze mechanisms for intelligence sharing and joint operations.
3. Evaluate extradition and cross-border prosecution processes.
4. Understand financial enforcement and sanctions coordination.
5. Assess legal risks in multinational counterterrorism efforts.
6. Navigate conflicts between domestic and international law.
7. Advise clients on cross-border compliance and cooperation.
8. Evaluate human rights considerations in counterterrorism.
9. Analyze interagency and international coordination challenges.
10. Apply legal principles to real-world cross-border scenarios.
