SKILL ROADMAP 36 · LEGAL CAREER ROADMAPS
International Law Professional
Foundations → International law in India → Primary sources → Choose an area → Moots → Research and publication → Further study → International internships
Track your progress
- This roadmap has 8 steps, 3 checkpoints and 3 projects.
- Open the interactive version to tick checkpoints and projects. Your progress is saved in your browser.
1 What this path is
International lawyers work on treaties, international institutions, trade, investment, humanitarian law and relations between states. The path is competitive and often involves further study.
2 Who this path may suit
The work involves deep research, writing, treaties and international documents, and often long term academic preparation.
3 The roadmap, step by step
- Learn the foundations.
Learn: sources of international law, the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, state responsibility and the UN Charter.
Practise: by summarising five landmark ICJ cases. - Learn how India applies international law.
Learn: Articles 51 and 253 and Indian judgments relying on international law.
Practise: by analysing one such judgment. - Research primary sources.
Learn: to find treaties, UN documents and international decisions.
Practise: by analysing one treaty India has signed. - Choose an area.
Learn: one area such as humanitarian law, human rights, trade, investment law or law of the sea.
Practise: with focused reading in that area. - Take part in moots.
Learn: international advocacy through moots such as the Jessup or humanitarian law moots. See the Moot Court Hub.
Practise: by researching or competing. - Research and publish.
Learn: to write publishable international law research.
Practise: with the Legal Research and Publication Roadmap. - Plan further study.
Learn: about LLM programmes and scholarships, and consider a second foreign language.
Practise: by building a plan with application timelines. - Intern internationally.
Learn: how international organisations and government bodies take interns.
Practise: by applying with a strong writing sample.
4 Your levels and checkpoints
Beginner level
- Explain sources of international law and how treaties bind
Intermediate level
- Analyse a treaty using primary sources
Advanced level
- Publish or present international law research
Advanced professional level
You advise or work in international legal institutions or practice.
These checklists are for honest self assessment. They are not an official certification.
5 Build these projects
- A treaty analysis
- A research paper in your chosen area
- A moot memorial
6 Internship direction
Look for international organisations, ministries, international law chambers and research centres. Prepare a strong writing sample.
7 Portfolio evidence
Treaty analyses, papers and memorials.
8 Common mistakes
- Relying on news instead of primary sources
- Starting further study plans too late
9 Go deeper
Legal Research Guidebook · Citation Guidebook · Moot Court Hub