Short Course: Law of the Sea
Date: 8 Sessions: 18, 25 April, 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 May, 6 June 2023
Time: 10.00 - 12.00 (UK time)
Venue: Online

Course Outline
This course offers an informative overview of the international law of the sea and current challenges facing the world's oceans and seas. How do States establish their maritime boundaries? What are the States' rights and obligations with regard to the various zones of maritime jurisdiction? What are the rules and procedures for the peaceful settlement of international maritime disputes? What are the obligations of States towards migrants rescued at sea? And what is the interplay between marine natural resources exploitation and environmental protection in areas within and beyond national jurisdiction?
Bringing together a distinguished cohort of law of the sea experts from academia and practice, the course provides participants with a solid working knowledge of the relevant legal and regulatory framework for the governance of the world's oceans, the main sources of the law of the sea, including treaties, customary law and judicial practice and how these elements are put to the test in different contexts, from protecting the marine environment and managing vulnerable species, to regulating deep-sea activities and, crucially, to peacefully resolving disputes between States.
Indicative course topics:
- The International Law of the Sea in Perspective
- Maritime Zones & Maritime Boundary Delimitation
- Fisheries Regulation and Management of Disputes relating to Fisheries
- Maritime Migration & Maritime Security
- Climate Change, Sea Level Rise & the Law of the Sea
- Deep Sea Mining & Marine Genetic Resources
- Marine Environmental Protection Law
- Dispute Settlement in the Law of the Sea and the Role of ITLOS
Course leader
Dr Constantinos Yiallourides, Research Leader in the Law of the Sea, BIICL and Lecturer, Macquarie University.
Who is the course for?
The course is beneficial to anyone with an interest in ocean governance including those working for government (including national and sub-national government), NGOs, legal practice (including law firms and chambers), companies and academia (including students).
Course format
The virtual course format will consist of a series of 8 sessions in which live (synchronous) teaching is offered via Zoom. Participants will be able to interact with the tutors and amongst themselves on screen.
Testimonials from past attendees
"Great learning experience"
"Really informative, accessible and in interactive - even as a non-Lawyer"
"Very good. I had a great experience"
Pricing and Registration
The course cost is £775 per person (including VAT).
This event is available for booking but you must be logged in before you can place a booking.
Book nowThis course will also be running in autumn 2023. Click here to find out more.
Course Discounts
Member discount: 15% discount for individual members of BIICL
Details of individual memberships at BIICL
Group discounts:
- 15% discount for groups of 3 or more attendees from Governmental Entities and Non-Governmental Organisations
- 15% discount for groups of 5 or more attendees from commercial organisations
To apply for any of the group discounts please Contact Us.
Training scholarships
The British Institute of International and Comparative Law is committed to equality and opportunity in the legal profession and to support greater engagement of under-represented groups in the legal profession.
In our efforts in this regard we are delighted to offer 3 scholarships for each of our short courses to participants from communities and backgrounds currently under-represented in the legal community.
Applications for training scholarships must be received at least three weeks ahead of the course start date (28 March 2023)
Find out more about training scholarships