This advanced, practice-focused seminar examines the modern law of the sea as a dynamic legal framework governing territorial rights, maritime resources, navigation, and international disputes. Anchored in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the course explores how coastal states, global powers, corporations, and international organizations assert and defend their interests across the world’s oceans.
The course focuses on how lawyers operate in real-world maritime contexts: advising on boundary disputes, offshore resource development, freedom of navigation conflicts, environmental obligations, and enforcement jurisdiction at sea. Students will analyze geopolitical tensions (e.g., contested waters, strategic shipping lanes), maritime enforcement actions, and dispute resolution mechanisms.
The seminar treats the law of the sea as a strategic legal discipline, where international law, national security, environmental policy, and commercial interests intersect.
This course assumes prior study of public international law or international relations.
Course Objectives
By the end of the course, students should be able to:
1. Understand the structure and principles of the law of the sea.
2. Analyze maritime zones and jurisdictional rights.
3. Evaluate coastal state and flag state authority.
4. Assess legal issues in maritime boundary disputes.
5. Understand rights over offshore resources.
6. Analyze navigation and security issues.
7. Evaluate environmental obligations under maritime law.
8. Navigate dispute resolution mechanisms.
9. Advise clients on maritime legal strategy.
10. Apply legal principles to real-world ocean governance issues.
