LAW 332P - International Humanitarian Law Practicum.

The course will be a one-semester practical course intended to simulate the real-time experience of a humanitarian assistance or disaster lawyer during an event. The course will center on a simulation in which students work through the response and recovery phases of a natural or technological disaster. Students will choose between the different roles a government, Red Cross, or civil society lawyer might play in various situations. The class will also have guest speakers from various disciplines related to humanitarian assistance. By taking this course, students will gain insight into operational law as a concept and the dynamics involved in performing the duties of a lawyer in a crisis situation. Students will learn the nuances of being a researcher, advocate, counselor and decision-maker. They will gain experience in drafting the different types of documents and communiques involved in this practice. Learning to identify and make decisions about legal issues as they arise will be a core learning outcome of the course. Class activities will focus on the simulation in addition to the substantive legal, business, political, policy and cultural matters that impact humanitarian assistance work. Active class participation and engagement in the disaster cycle as simulated will drive the course. Students will spend time outside of class, working in teams or as individuals, to prepare for class discussions. Some of this will be devoted to developing strategies to help their teams’ performance in the simulation. The remainder will be dedicated to research related to the simulation and assigned written work. Five hours. Sanders DC Program.