Are you interested in international law but unsure of what career path to take? International law is critical to international relations, making this a highly influential legal field.
In this article, we’ll break down everything you need to know about international law, including professional responsibilities, salary and job outlook. We’ll also explore how to become a lawyer who specializes in international policy.
What Is International Law?
International law is a set of rules and agreements that bind countries and foreign entities, also called the law of nations. This branch of law governs the interactions and relations among sovereign states and non-state actors—in other words, corporations.
International law fosters peace and economic and diplomatic relations among different countries. To prevent hostility between nations of the world, international law establishes guidelines across many domains, including:
•International trade
•Human rights
•Prevention of war
•Migration
•Territorial sovereignty
•Environmental justice
•Fair treatment of prisoners
When countries enter a legally enforceable agreement, all signatories must abide by the treaty. If there’s a violation, the offending state must face the sanction stipulated in the initial agreement.
There are two main branches of international law, which we’ll discuss in more detail below.
Private International Law
The Organization of American States defines private international law as the legal framework regulating relationships among individuals in an international context. This framework provides a set of principles for resolving legal disputes between private entities (individuals and corporations) in different countries.
Public International Law
Public international law involves a code of conduct that regulates interactions among governments of sovereign states. States affected by common issues such as war, terrorism or drug/sex trafficking may enter into multilateral negotiations and sign treaties that dictate how each actor will address the issue from their end.
Sometimes, international organizations (such as the United Nations) are created to enforce certain treaties signed by member states.
Public international law also extends to international humanitarian law (IHL). This branch of law seeks to reduce human suffering by protecting victims of armed conflicts. This protection and aid manifest in various ways, such as:
• Restriction of weapons available to combatants
• Donation of food and medical supplies to non-combatants
• Provision of medical personnel for the care of wounded soldiers
What Do International Lawyers Do?
An international lawyer is a trained professional who practices international law. These lawyers are typically skilled in critical analysis, public speaking, writing and negotiations. Some may speak several languages so they can facilitate easy communication with non-English-speaking representatives.
Let’s take a look at the job description for international lawyers and their earning potential.
Role and Responsibilities
As an international lawyer, you may take on the following duties.
•Explaining the international code of conduct to newly elected officials
•Drafting legal terms and treaty stipulations on behalf of state officials
•Drafting trade agreements for national governments
•Representing private charities in court over IHL violations
•Negotiating settlements for foreign corporations
The bottom line is that international lawyers help maintain world peace. When countries and private entities respect international laws, there is less hostility.
Salary and Job Outlook
Due to the lack of sufficient income data for international lawyers specifically, we’ll use the documented records for all lawyers to estimate salary expectations.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), lawyers make a median annual salary of $127,990. This field shows no signs of slowing down, either. The BLS projects a 10% employment growth rate for lawyers, including international lawyers, from 2021 to 2031.
How To Become An International Lawyer
Becoming an international lawyer is a straightforward process requiring lots of hard work and discipline. Below we list the steps to take to build a successful law career from scratch.
Earn a Bachelor’s Degree
A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college in the U.S. is the minimum academic requirement for applying to any law school. Though some colleges offer pre-law majors at the undergraduate level, it’s not necessary to earn a pre-law degree. Many aspiring law students major in subjects like psychology, English, finance and mathematics. If international law is your goal, you might study political science or a similar topic.
Take the LSAT
After completing a four-year undergraduate program, taking the LSAT is next on your list. The LSAT is a yardstick for predicting how well potential students may perform in the first year of law school. The exam includes five multiple-choice sections and one unscored writing sample section.
Learners are tested on their reading comprehension, writing and logical reasoning skills. Regarding the LSAT score range, the highest possible score is 180, and the lowest is 120.
Note that there are some law schools that accept the GRE instead of the LSAT.
Attend Law School
Before you can sit for the bar and become an attorney, you must graduate from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA), usually with a juris doctor (JD). Most JD degree programs take about three years to complete. However, the duration could be longer for part-time students.
The typical curriculum for first-year law students covers civil procedures, contracts, torts, criminal law, legal research and legal writing. After their first year, students can choose a specialty.
The average annual tuition rate for full-time, in-state law students is around $40,800 per year, according to data reported by the ABA. That said, law school costs vary drastically. If you can’t afford tuition and living expenses, you might consider taking out a law school student loan.
Pass the Bar
Most U.S. states require lawyers to sit for the bar exam before they can become practicing attorneys. Specifics may vary by state, but in most cases, the bar exam is a three-part test including multiple-choice and essay questions.
Passing the bar qualifies you for an attorney’s license to practice law in a specific jurisdiction.
Other Careers for International Law Graduates
Policy Advisor
Median Annual Salary: $122,510
Projected Job Growth (2021-2031): +6%
Job Description: Policy advisors research and evaluate the policies governing a specific field. These professionals advise leaders on their strategies and report policy changes to the individuals in charge.
Mediator
Median Annual Salary: $49,410
Projected Job Growth (2021-2031): +6%
Job Description: Mediators facilitate negotiations and settlements among disputing parties to resolve conflicts out of court. These professionals analyze legal situations, inform all actors of their rights (and limitations) and aim to propose win-win solutions.
Corporate Lawyer
Median Annual Salary: $127,990
Projected Job Growth (2021-2031): +10%
Job Description: These lawyers advise on commercial agreements and business transactions. They protect companies from legal violations and represent companies in legal proceedings.
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