Laws of International Organisations

LAWS OF INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS (J.D. Program)

QUESTION:
The development of Intergovernmental Organisations and the increasing significance of their role in a wide range of fields has put at issue the adequacy of the rules governing their operation, particularly the question of the scope of the immunities and privileges enjoyed by Intergovernmental Organisations.

Discuss whether such privileges and immunities still have a place within modern international law.

In exploring the question, you may wish to discuss the principles and rules that relate to these privileges and immunities and the adequacy and appropriateness of these rules. You may also like to examine the various ways the issues relating to privilege and immunity have been addressed.

Weighting: This assignment is compulsory and worth 60% of your final result in the course.

Word Limit: 3,000 words

Instructions:
You must write an accurate word-count on the front of your assignment. Assignments longer than 3,300 words will be penalised at a rate of 3 marks per 100 words, or part thereof. Footnotes (i.e. references only) and the bibliography are not counted but all substantive text, including headings, and discursive footnotes (i.e. anything other than references) are counted.

Academic Dishonesty: when you sign the Assignment Cover Sheet, you guarantee that you have submitted your own work. Plagiarism includes any use of work that is not your own, where you have not clearly acknowledged the correct author and followed the correct academic conventions. This includes copying or sharing the work of other students. It is unacceptable, even where you acknowledge an author, to cut and paste from the internet or other sources and integrate it into the text (direct and properly acknowledged and formatted quotes excluded). Any suspected academic misconduct will be referred to the Associate Dean of Law for investigation.

Referencing: Assignments must contain accurate references in accordance with the Australian Guide to Legal Citation 3rd ed. Use footnotes, not endnotes. Footnotes are not counted in the word limit where they contain references only; no discursive footnotes (i.e. anything other than references) are permitted; if you include discursive footnotes these will be counted in your word limit. You must include a Bibliography, although this is not included in your word limit.

ASSIGNMENT MARKING CRITERIA
A good assignment should:
1. address all the main issues raised by the question and engage in a critical analysis;
2. demonstrate ability to interpret the task, answer questions and clearly communicate understanding;
3. demonstrate ability to structure a coherent analysis and argument, logically ordered, and well-supported by your reading and research;
4. be written clearly and concisely with correct use of grammar and spelling; and
5. use a clear and consistent citation method, honestly acknowledging the sources of law and your ideas.

The following grade characteristics are given to assist you in considering the standards that your examiners apply to the marking criteria.

Fail (Below 50%): An unsatisfactory response to the question.
Work may fail for any or all of the following reasons:
• Serious misunderstanding of the issues raised by the question.
• Little or no attempt to answer question.
• Lacks ability to read, understand, distil and explain and legislation.
• Content that is inappropriate or irrelevant.
• Little or no reference to materials provided.
• Plagiarism, inappropriate use of other student work, poor referencing.
• Has simply copied and pasted from sources with little or no attempt to contextualise or explain relevance and understanding.
• Little or no evidence of creative and critical thinking.
• Difficult or impossible to understand through poor grammar, expression or structure.
• Significant or numerous errors.

Pass (50-64%): A satisfactory response to the question; mostly accurate.
• Satisfactory understanding of the issues raised by the question.
• Attempts to answer question but some inaccuracies.
• Displays some ability to read, understand, distil and explain legislation and secondary materials.
• Displays some ability to perform legal research, writing and analytical skills.
• Some content that is inappropriate or irrelevant.
• Appropriate referencing but some mistakes.
• Superficial use of material, tendency to paraphrase.
• Some evidence of critical and creative thinking.
• Some errors of significance.
• Adequate expression and structure.

Credit (65-74%): A good response to the question; accurate and complete.
• Good understanding of the issues raised by the question.
• Answers question fully, but may have minor inaccuracies.
• Displays the ability to read, understand, distil and explain legislation and secondary materials but may have some minor inconsistencies.
• Displays the ability to perform legal research, writing and analytical skills but may have some minor inconsistencies.
• Content appropriate and relevant.
• Some relevant independent research, effectively used in development of argument.
• Appropriate referencing but some minor mistakes.
• Demonstrates understanding and ability to use material.
• Evidence of critical and creative thinking.
• Only minor errors if any.
• Largely clear expression and structure.

Distinction (75-84%): An excellent response to the question; accurate, rigorous, impressive work.
• Demonstrates very good understanding of the issues raised by the question.
• Answers question fully and accurately.
• Displays a consistent and sound ability to read, understand, distil and explain legislation and secondary materials.
• Displays precise and thoughtful legal research, writing and analytical skills.
• Content appropriate and relevant.
• Significant relevant independent research; persuasively used in development of argument.
• Appropriate and accurate referencing without errors.
• Demonstrates excellent understanding and ability to use material.
• Considerable evidence of creative and critical thinking.
• Generally well expressed and free from errors.

High Distinction (85% +): An outstanding response to the question; exceptional in some way that exceeds work at a Distinction level.
• Demonstrates excellent understanding of the issues raised by the question.
• Answers question exhaustively and accurately.
• Displays an excellent ability to read, understand, distil and explain legislation and secondary materials
• Demonstrates precise and thoughtful legal skills.
• Content appropriate and relevant.
• Relevant, substantial and original independent research; argument is based upon outstanding and rigorous use of research.
• Appropriate and accurate referencing without errors.
• Demonstrates exceptional understanding and ability to use material.
• Considerable evidence of creative and critical thinking.
• Exceptionally well structured and well written.
• Is otherwise exceptional in some way.

Marking Feedback Form

This documents is used to provide guidance as to the various areas that are commonly encountered when marking such assignments. It will be used as a feedback tool as part of the marking process for this Assignment.

To improve this paper you should give consideration to the highlighted or circled factors below:

o Be clearer in structuring your arguments so that the reader can follow the flow of themes and ideas.

o Your written expression lacks precision or clarity.

o Be sure that you fully understand the issues you write about; your paper suggests some confusion or misunderstanding.

o Be careful not to make errors about the law.

o You need to show that you have understood the different approaches taken to the legal issues, including differences of nuance or interpretation.

o Develop your analysis further and undertake more critical and evaluative analysis of the material.

o Develop a stronger sense of your own argument and analysis.

o Back up your arguments with evidence, giving concrete examples to demonstrate your position.

o Do more research and / or target your research to more relevant and appropriate materials.

o Take care to reference properly and/or to use a consistent citation style.

o Be careful to avoid generalisations and unsupported statements.

o Be more careful with grammar and expression.

o See comments on paper for additional feedback.