Public International Law - LAWC 339
The course aims to present a panorama of public international law, which covers principles and rules that govern the relations between States. It introduces students to the definition, sources, and branches of public international law, and the legal binding nature of its rules; and, ultimately, provides them with practical skills in legal reasoning and arguing, research and writing on international issues.
The course focuses on the most important areas of public international law, including inter alia: sources of international law, interaction between international and municipal law, international personality-Statehood-recognition of States and government, territory, law of the sea, jurisdiction, responsibility of States, law of treaties and international dispute settlement. The public international law course looks at the role of international law in responding to contemporary and topical issues.
Legal Research and Writing I- LAWC 111
Legal Research and Writing I (LAWC 111) introduces students to objective legal writing and legal reasoning and research. Students learn how to research, prepare, and submit a memorandum of law. More broadly, they learn how to reason like lawyers and legal writers.
Legal Research and Writing I students write two related legal memoranda, one ‘closed’ (case and statutory law provided) and the other ‘open’ (case law discovered through research). In the process, and in exercises leading up to the memo assignments, students learn how to: (1) read and summarize cases; (2) organize written legal analysis in the standard format; (3) read and write case citations; (4) do targeted legal research using the universal search engines in local and international law firms.
The Introduction to International Legal English Lab (IILE) supports Legal Writing I and equips law students with the ability to communicate using common legal terminology. Through training in Legal English speaking, reading, writing, and listening, students will develop interpersonal, professional, and language skills that are important to their legal academic studies and the practice of law.
Legal Research and Writing II- LAWC223
Unlike LRW I, which focused on objective legal writing, Legal Research and Writing 2 (LRW2) will focus on persuasivewritten advocacy and legal argumentation. Over the course of the semester, students will write an appellate brief(addressed to a court) on behalf of a client. As they work on that assignment throughout the semester, students willlearn how to use the law and facts that pertain to their client’s legal issues to advocate effectively for a desired outcome.Students will also build on the skills they learned in LRW I with advanced legal research, citation, and legal analysis.Students will learn how to use these skills to write an effective legal brief. Students will also learn how to conduct legalresearch, how to cite, and how to effectively analyze and argue on behalf of their client using the CREAC format.The International Legal English 2 Lab (ILE2), which supports LRW2, will equip law students with the ability to communicate using the advanced technical English language required to practice law and for academic legal study in English. The ILE2will also help students polish their English grammar and writing skills. Moreover, since legal English is applicable to allmodules in the curriculum, the skills developed in this lab will be pervasive throughout the entire curriculum at the Collegeof Law, meaning that students will benefit further from their lessons outside of this course. Through training in speaking,reading, writing and listening, these skills will enable students to apply their abilities in every aspect of academic studyand in the practice of law in any industry.
Externship - LAWC 409
Qatar University College of Law’s goal is to prepare students to practice law, and as part of achieving this, experiential learning, i.e., learning by doing, is extremely important. It is our firm belief that certain skills requisite for extraordinary legal professionals can only be learned outside of the classroom. Qatar University externships expose students to different models of legal skills related to specific areas of law, allow students to acquire greater insight into the process of lawyering, permit students to develop a sense of professional development, and provide students with an opportunity to reflect on and learn from experiences in a supportive yet real-world environment.
Qatar University’s Externship Program offers students course credit for direct legal experience with practicing lawyers, judges or legal professionals in a supervised setting. Each externship course also includes a classroom component designed to assist the students in processing the information they gather during their work experiences and in developing their professional identity. Externship courses expose students to real-world legal assignments, with a level of responsibility not typically available to students. The educational value of this program is enriched by the combined instruction and supervision of law school faculty, adjunct instructors and supervising attorneys.
Participation in this program differs from paid legal work available to students, both in the level of supervision provided, and in the provision of classroom instruction in conjunction with the professional placement. Law school faculty members monitor the quality of the externship experience and ensure that the externships are integrated with the other parts of the law school curriculum.
Advocacy Skills - LAWC 302
Advocacy Skills (LAWC 302) focuses on training students to serve as advocates. Students continue to develop their ability to read and analyse the law, as well as their persuasive writing skills, by preparing an arbitration brief. They will also refine their oral advocacy skills in preparation for a formal oral argument before a moot arbitration panel. Top advocates in this course will be invited to compete in a championship round at the end of the semester and may also be invited to represent Qatar University in regional and/or international moot competitions.
The International Legal English 2 (ILE2) Lab, which supports the Advocacy Skills course, aims to improve the student’s ability to communicate using the English language. It focuses on terminology, grammar, punctuation, and other related English language skills that underpin the Advocacy Skills course material.
Oil and Gas Law- LAWC 433
This course reviews oil and gas contracts used in exploration, production, sale and operations and maintenance of oil and gas projects both in Qatar and internationally. It focuses on the current available legal instruments used in the oil and gas industry, including key terms of the proforma contracts used by Qatar Petroleum and its affiliates and subsidiaries within the State of Qatar. Included in the coverage are –briefly – concession contracts, and – in detail – joint venture agreements, exploitation, development and production sharing agreements, service contracts for operation and maintenance, key terms of sale agreements in oil and gas and the objectives and key terms of confidentiality agreements or confidentiality clauses in oil and gas related contracts. The instructor should discuss with students other oil related agreements, corporate and legal structure of various types of upstream, midstream and downstream oil projects in order to clarify those special features. Related conventions and international organizations such as OPEC, OAPEC and OECD can be covered. If time permits, the instructor may include operating agreements, facility sharing agreements and various types of time charter party agreements for transportation of LNG and other by-products by Sea to customers worldwide. The course emphasizes both fundamental principles and current issues in the petroleum industry and it touches upon topical clauses.
Human Rights - LAWC 102
The purpose of this course is to examine the history, development, structure and efficacy of International Human Rights Law. Students will investigate the legal framework of the United Nations and regional systems (European, Inter-American, African and Arab) relating to the protection and promotion of human rights. The course covers the rights that are most commonly claimed by the individuals (civil, political, economic, social, cultural, and group rights). The course has an academic profile but also aims to develop some practical skills.
International Humanitarian Law - LAWC 113
The purpose of this course is to explore the development and operation of international humanitarian law (IHL), which is the body of public international law that regulates conduct during international and non-international armed conflict. Although IHL is the expression most widely used, the same body of law is often referred to as Law of Armed Conflict (LOAC), and occasionally referred to as Law of War or as Jus in Bello. The course examines key issues relating to IHL, enabling students to examine the historical and theoretical developments, sources, fundamental principles and objectives of the rules governing both international and non-international armed conflicts. Topics include the constraints on means and methods of warfare; the protection of civilians and prisoners of war; means of enforcement of international humanitarian law, including criminal prosecution; and the relationship of the laws of armed conflict with international human rights law.
Anglo-American Legal System - LAWC 253
The Common Law tradition is one of the key legal systems in the world and has influenced the legal system of so many countries around the world. It originated from England and with the expansion of the British empire the legal tradition spread to many parts of the world. Among the countries that practice this system are Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, India, Malaysia, Ghana, Canada, Kenya and the United States (except Louisiana). Indeed, almost all the countries in the entire English speaking world are significantly influenced by the Common Law. As you study law largely located in the Civil law tradition, it is important to understand the history and the key features of the other dominant tradition – the common law-. This is why this course introduces students to the history and practice of law in two key Common law countries – the UK and US-.
Intellectual Property - LAWC 335
The course is designed to deal with national and international legal protection of intellectual property rights. It introduces students to the different types of intellectual property rights, namely: patents, trademarks, trade secrets, geographical indications, trade names, industrial designs, layout-designs of integrated circuits and copyright and neighboring/related rights. Although its focus is primarily on Qatari laws, frequently, reference is made to the international norms as found in the TRIPs agreement and other international conventions concerning intellectual property, such as the Paris Convention and the Berne Convention.
International Trade Law - LAWC 345
This course examines international law and institutions that govern foreign trade, including the World Trade Organisations (WTO), the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) and other regional trade agreements. Focus is on customs law, dumping, most favoured nation treatment (MFN), unfair trade practices and trade liberalisation. In addition, the course sheds a light on the WTO dispute settlement system.
International Criminal Law - LAWC 443
Horrified public reaction to widespread atrocities and wholesale abuse of human rights in recent years has propelled International Criminal Law (ICL) to the forefront of attention for legal response by the international community. Individual criminal responsibility for criminal acts in contravention of international law was firmly established by the Nuremburg and Tokyo trials after WWII, when the major war criminals were convicted of war crimes, crimes against peace (aggression) and crimes against humanity. Since then ICL has grown rapidly and expansively beyond the proscriptions of international humanitarian law (IHL) in times of armed conflict. It now includes a broader range of offences against the abuse of human rights, including genocide, torture, slavery and certain forms of racial discrimination. It operates at all times whether in conditions of peace or war.
Environment Laws and Regulations - LAWC 449
This course evaluates how Qatari national law applies and operates to protect the environment. The course considers the main environmental problems facing Qatar within the context of climate change, identifies the sources of environmental law and introduces some of the most important environmental legal issues facing Qatar. Students are prepared for industry by examining in detail Qatari environmental legislation and regulations and how they apply and are enforced in practice. After analysing environmental problems and understanding the legal sources, students practice how to advise a client facing an environmental problem.
Alternative Dispute Resolutions - LAWC 451
Arbitration has become firmly established as an alternative to the court process in resolving disputes. This is particularly the case with international agreements and international disputes. For countries, like Qatar, that have heavily internationalized economies, arbitration becomes a key plank in the resolution of disputes. In this part of the course, we will look at the theory and practice of arbitration. We will also examine the merits of arbitration and the gradual adoption of adversarial court characteristics.
Drafting of Business Contract - LAWC 459
This course covers the skills of drafting different types of business contracts. Students learn how to use plain English in constructing legally binding and effective contract’s provisions. The course concentrates on six main areas: translating the business deal into contract concepts, drafting the different contract’s parts, drafting clearly and unambiguously, drafting from the client's perspective, putting a contract together, and drafting ethically. Through training in English communication and writing, students will develop interpersonal and professional skills that are essential for the practice of law.
Moot Court I - LAWC 460
Moot Court I (LAWC 460) has two main goals. First, students will be trained to serve as advocates in disputes that arise between governments and individuals under international law. Students will continue to develop their ability to read and analyze the law, as well as their persuasive writing skills, by preparing arguments for both sides of a legal issue. Students will participate in the writing of an appellate and appellee brief, and will also be introduced to the oral advocacy skills required to make a formal oral argument before an arbitral or judicial tribunal.
Second, students will develop the unique skills necessary to participate in a moot court competition. Accordingly, deadlines for some assignments will be dictated by the requirements of a particular moot court competition. Students will be expected to work on assignments throughout the semester in order to meet these deadlines. Top performing students will be invited to travel abroad to represent Qatar University at a moot court competition during the Spring semester.
International Investment Law - LAWC 464
The TradeLab clinic offers a unique opportunity to thoroughly analyze trade and investment law and jurisprudence through a combination of practice and theory. Students will work in small groups (“project teams”) and under supervision of 3 professors (the one offers the course acts as main supervisor), 3 mentors , 3 beneficiaries and 1 Clinic Coordinator on specific legal questions related to trade and investment law coming from real “clients”, such as international organizations, governments or NGOs. In addition, four expert-led workshops on substantive topics related to the projects will be organized (with guest speakers) and three skills sessions will be held (with dedicated professionals) to improve library research, legal writing and oral presentation skills. At the end of the semester, the groups will submit written legal memos and orally present their projects in class in the presence of the client and other invited guests.
Moot Court II - LAWC 480
Moot Court II (LAWC 480) has two main goals. One goal of the course is to continue to train students to serve as advocates in disputes that arise between governments and individuals that will be decided by the use of international law. Students will initially focus on analyzing legal authorities and issues so as to be able to present effective oral arguments to a judicial or arbitral panel. Students will then continue to develop their legal analysis and research skills, as well as their persuasive writing skills, by synthesizing various legal arguments related to international law disputes from the perspective of a judicial officer. Another goal of the course is to provide students with the unique skills that are necessary to participate in a Qatar University College of Law Moot or a regional or international moot. While all students will practice and deliver final oral arguments as a part of the course, top students will be invited to represent QU at a Moot Court competition. Participation on a moot court team is not required to complete this course. Accordingly, the initial weeks of the semester will be focused on developing students’ oral arguments to a level necessary for participating in a competition, regardless of whether the student represents Qatar University. Some of the deadlines for assignments will be dictated by the requirements of a particular moot court competition and students will be expected to work on assignments throughout the semester.