About the Scottish Centre for International Law

Edinburgh University has been one of the leading centres for teaching and research in Public International Law since 1707. James Lorimer, Regius Professor of Public Law and the Law of Nature and Nations in the mid-nineteenth century was a prominent founding member of both the International Law Association and the Institut de Droit International. More recently a former graduate, Choon-ho Park, has been a judge of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea and many Edinburgh graduates have served as international lawyers in foreign ministries, international organizations, non-governmental organizations and international courts.

The Scottish Centre for International Law was established in 1999 at the University of Edinburgh. Its aims are to promote research and study in international law, to play an active role in the development of international law in and outside Scotland, to promote excellence in the teaching of international law, and to offer a wide range of expertise on all matters pertaining to international law. It also provides support for postgraduate students and scholars to undertake study and research in international law and related fields. The present Director of the Centre is Professor Bill Gilmore.

The Centre has hosted seminars and lectures by many distinguished speakers. Its conferences (Fragmentation and International Law in 1996; Scots Law and Human Rights in 1999; Regional Trade Agreements and the WTO in 2005) aim to bring together scholars and professionals to advance knowledge and understanding in international law and other relevant areas. In 1999-2000 the Centre ran a British Academy funded research project on Environmental Damage in International and Comparative Law. In 2003-5 the Centre also partnered the University of Adolfo Ibanez, Santiago, Chile in a British Council-funded research programme on Sustainable Development and International Law.

For a summary of our recent activities, please download the latest copy of our annual report covering the academic year 2010/2011.

If you have any questions or queries about the Scottish Centre for International Law, please email Professor Bill Gilmore.

December 2011: Honorary Graduate of Edinburgh Law School elected to the International Court of Justice

The United Nations General Assembly and Security Council elected Julia Sebutinde, a former graduate and honorary graduate of Edinburgh Law School, as a judge of the International Court of Justice on 13 December 2011.  Julia won 97 votes in the Assembly and nine votes in the Council. Julia will commence her nine year term on the Court from 5 February 2012 along with four other new judges voted to the Court in November 2011. More information on the election can be found on the UN website.

Julia Sebutinde first attended Edinburgh Law School in 1991 when she was awarded the LLM in Law with Distinction. She was then awarded the Honorary Doctor of Laws in 2009 in recognition of her work in the field of human rights and her contribution to the fight against corruption. 

A list of upcoming lectures and seminars can be found on the events page.

For past news from the Scottish Centre for International Law, see the News Archive.