international law

Is International Law Even Real?

/ Sangeeta Kishore / Leave a comment

At law school, I wanted to pursue international law. I studied International Relations in college, worked in foreign policy — anything with the word “global” in it, I was in. But what is international law? Some people say that it doesn’t exist. Others define it as a confusing mess of conventions, treaties and standards, with no real enforcement. 

I’d like to draw a different picture. International law sets the norms for global politics and helps facilitate socio-economic development across the world. Perhaps most importantly, international law regulates the conduct of war.

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A Tale of Two Responses: 9/11, Ukraine, and the Evolution of International Justice

/ Alex Mostaghimi / Leave a comment

On September 11, 2001, the world watched in horror as planes crashed into the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and a Pennsylvania field, killing nearly 3,000 people. It was an attack not just on American soil, but on the very fabric of international peace and security. The magnitude of 9/11 called for a swift and forceful response, and the U.S. delivered—launching the War on Terror, invading Afghanistan, and eventually Iraq. However, questions about the legality of these actions arose. The legacy of Guantánamo Bay, extraordinary renditions, and indefinite detentions has left an indelible mark on the global fight against terrorism.

Two decades later, another horrific event has sparked the world’s attention: Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. But this time, the international community is charting a different course. Rather than bypassing international law, Ukraine is actively working to establish a high war crimes court to prosecute the atrocities committed in its territory. This pursuit of accountability, while the conflict is still raging, marks a significant evolution in the global approach to justice. It proves that we are progressing in our search for international accountability, contrasting sharply with the path taken in the aftermath of 9/11.

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Why You Should Apply For The Semester-in-Practice in Dublin

/ Alex Bou-Rhodes / Leave a comment

I’m pleased to host a guest post by Ned Melanson ’19, who writes about one of BC Law’s several programs that place students in legal internships in other countries. 

Picture this: It’s Wednesday, 5:30pm, in late February in Boston. You, a 2L still coming down from the whirlwind of 1L (or a 3L starting to feel like a caged bird ready to spread your wings), are sitting on the yellow room couches with your law school chums, waiting for that night class to start. You are wondering why you were too lazy to sign up for a morning class and subjected yourself to a 6:00pm. The light fades from the Newton sky as you and your compatriots trade gossip from the last weekend or discuss plans for the upcoming, yet still distant one. Outside it’s cold and there’s snow in the parking lot.

Now picture this: It’s Wednesday, 5:30pm, in late February, in Dublin. You, adventurous and with great foresight, are sitting in O’Donoghue’s pub, just around the corner from the beautiful Georgian brick building that houses BC Ireland. Surrounding you are a group of equally adventurous BC Law 2L and 3L’s, most of whom you could not have named before this semester, but now you wouldn’t hesitate in calling them friends. You’re listening to the two chaps in the corner booth play a fully unplugged set of classic Irish folk songs; occasionally one will stand up and reprimand the crowd for not being quiet enough or to pass around the hat. You’ve spent most of the day working at your internship at a well-respected Irish law firm, dedicated non-profit, budding tech company, or maybe the world’s largest aircraft leasing company. The Guinness sitting in front of you is rumored to be the best in Dublin.

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