Events and Announcements: 1 June 2020

Call for Papers

Robert Cryer – A Life in Law and a Law unto Himself: We greatly miss Professor Rob Cryer, who passed away in 2021 at the age of forty-six. We aim to channel this loss, those missings, into an event, and a book, that celebrates his oeuvre, research, mentorship, teaching, insights, idiosyncrasy, laughter, vim, and wit.

We plan an eclectic conference that will feature: ‘traditional’ panels; conversations about law, life, and Rob; musings, music, and meditations; and literature and reminiscing. We are interested in papers that reflect upon Rob’s scholarly writing in and from all areas of law, but also his pedagogy; and his distinctive combinations of playfulness, precision, palavering…

The conference will be held June 29-July 1, 2023, in Birmingham UK, where Rob was based for the last 14 years of his life. Submissions can be traditional law journal looking-like-papers or ones that take different forms. Contributions will be reviewed by a committee that has convened to make this event happen. We are confident that following the conference the papers (for those who wish to publish) will be published in an edited Festschrift with a major press. We intend to do so and will make this happen.

Please submit an abstract of no more than 300 words, along with brief biographical information, to Solange Mouthaan at office[at]rob-cryer-scholarship[dot]com by August 1, 2022.

The organizers will review submitted abstracts shortly thereafter and notify applicants by 1 October. If you would like to be included in the published Festschrift, a draft paper (appropriate to the form of your contribution, but in any case not exceeding 5,000 words) will be expected before the conference by May 1, 2023. After the conference, and in conjunction with suggestions by the editors, we would anticipate final papers to be published early in 2024.

For substantive questions related to the call for papers, please contact Gerry Simpson (G[dot]J[dot]Simpson[at]lse[dot]ac[dot]uk), Mark Drumbl (drumblm[at]wlu[dot]edu) or Andrew Sanders (Andrew[dot]Sanders[at]warwick[dot]ac[dot]uk).

More information will be provided regarding the conference itself in due course, and we’re investigating funding possibilities for those unable to sponsor their own travel and accommodation. We particularly encourage early career researchers to join in – whether or not you want to present a paper – especially as Rob was so supportive of new scholars.

Further details will be published here as they become available.

Announcements

Symposium on “Seeking Refuge, Finding Solidarity? Challenges and Chances for Ukrainian Protection-Seekers in Europe”: Taking into account the legal aspects of protection of Ukrainian refugees in Europe, the Law Faculties from University of Zagreb (Croatia), Ruhr University Bochum (Germany), University of Lodz (Poland), University of Deusto, Bilbao (Spain) and Koç University, Istanbul (Turkey) as members of UNIC alliance, are organising the Symposium “Seeking Refuge, Finding Solidarity? Challenges and Chances for Ukrainian Protection-Seekers in Europe”. The event will take place online, on June 1st, 2022 from 10 AM to 3 PM (CET). Following the key notes of Cathryn Costello and ItamarMann, the event will focus on the national regimes for Ukrainian protection-seekers in Europe, the role of law faculties and universities in providing support to Ukrainian students and scholars, and the right to leave and discriminatory admissions of protection-seekers. You may find the full programme of the event here and you can register via this registration link.

Volterra Fietta Seminar – Dispute resolution under UNCLOS: This event will take place on 9 June 2022 at 2.00 pm BST, 3.00 pm CEST, 9.00 am EDT.  The dispute settlement system under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (“UNCLOS”) is one of the most complex and detailed dispute resolution systems in public international law.  It offers a diverse mix of processes, including both consent-based processes as well as mandatory procedures. It also spans many different maritime issues, from maritime boundary delimitation to deep seabed mining and the prompt release of vessels.  In this, the dispute settlement procedure is an integral part of UNCLOS and its outcomes shape the law of the sea.  And with maritime disputes on the rise, the UNCLOS dispute resolution system is likely to take on an even more prominent role in the near future.  This timely seminar will address various aspects of the UNCLOS dispute resolution system.  It will discuss, among other topics, creativity in such dispute settlement, clarification of the law of the sea through dispute settlement, influencing dispute settlement under UNCLOS, comparisons between the different dispute settlement mechanisms under UNCLOS and how the dispute settlement system might be used to interpret UNCLOS in light of technological developments.

The speakers will be Professor Natalie Klein from UNSW Sydney’s Faculty of Law, Professor Sean D. Murphy from George Washington University Law School, ITLOS Judge Tomas Heidar, Professor Robert Charles Beckman from the National University of Singapore and Professor Robert Volterra, partner at Volterra Fietta.  Interested participants can email seminars[at]volterrafietta[dot]com by midday 8 June 2022 with their names and affiliations. The seminar will be moderated by Florentine Vos, Senior Associate at Volterra Fietta. For more information, see here.

Jobs

Executive Director of the American Society of International Law (ASIL)

The American Society of International Law (“ASIL” or “the Society”) seeks an accomplished leader with vision, proficiency in international law, and proven management skills to serve as its next Executive Director starting (ideally) in mid-September 2022.

About ASIL. The Society is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, educational membership organization founded in 1906 by then-Secretary of State Elihu Root and chartered by Congress in 1950. ASIL is widely regarded as the leading nongovernmental organization dedicated to the advancement of international law. Its mission, as set forth in its Constitution, is “to foster the study of international law and to promote the establishment and maintenance of international relations on the basis of law and justice.” ASIL serves as the premier convener and a trusted resource for the international academy, bench, and bar. The Society’s 3,500 members come from more than 100 countries, with nearly 40 percent residing outside the United States. Its members include scholars, jurists, practitioners, government officials, leaders in international and nongovernmental organizations, students, and others interested in international law. Through its publications, conferences, briefings, and educational events, ASIL seeks to serve the needs of this diverse membership and to advance understanding of international law among policymakers and the public. The Society, which is a volunteer-led organization governed by an elected Executive Council and administered by a professional staff, is headquartered at Tillar House in Washington, DC.

Responsibilities. The Executive Director leads a diverse and accomplished 10-12 person staff, who facilitate the Society’s programming, development, finance, fundraising, and membership activities, including by:

1. convening the prestigious ASIL Annual Meeting in Washington, which attracts more than 1,300 participants each year;
2. organizing and sponsoring other meetings, conferences, and symposia;
3. publishing the leading journals American Journal of International Law, its open-access companion AJIL Unbound, International Legal Materials, and Proceedings of the ASIL Annual Meeting, as well as online publications;
4. maintaining a robust virtual presence through social media, an extensive website, and podcasting;
5. supporting over 30 ASIL member Interest Groups;
6. providing other educational and information resources, including career development opportunities in international law;
7. engaging in fundraising events to support the Society’s goals;
8. conducting impactful policy-oriented discussion and research; and
9. engaging in outreach to non-members in the U.S. Government, the judiciary, the diplomatic community, international organizations, the media, and the public to promote a broader understanding of international law.

Apart from directing the Society’s regular work, the Executive Director contributes to shaping the Society’s vision and responses to the ever-more challenging global order. In this regard, the Executive Director works closely with ASIL’s President (elected every two years) and Executive Council (serving three-year terms), who govern the Society and determine its direction.

The Executive Director also has an important outward-facing role as an ambassador for the Society and meets with important constituencies, including the judiciary; the White House and executive agencies such as the Departments of State, Defense and Justice; the U.S. Congress; international organizations and diplomats; local and international media; think tanks; academia; private practitioners; bar associations; professional organizations in law and other disciplines; and national and regional international law societies outside the United States.

Qualifications. The successful candidate for Executive Director will:

1. be proficient in international law;
2. possess strong managerial, administrative, and organizational ability and experience, overseeing ASIL’s staff and an annual budget in excess of $3 million;
3. have effective fundraising skills, including through pursuit of grants, sponsorships, partnerships, and individual giving;
4. be adept at promoting ASIL’s programing and advancing its mission through social media, the ASIL website, and other outlets;
5. be able to engage effectively with ASIL’s diverse international membership;
6. be capable of facilitating dissemination of scholarly and informational output in print, electronic, and conference settings; and
7. be able to design and implement outreach programs and represent ASIL publicly before its many U.S. and foreign constituencies.

Terms. ASIL’s Executive Council will appoint the new Executive Director to an initial term of three years, with the possibility of reappointment to a second term of up to five years, and a competitive reappointment to a final term up to a combined 12-year term limit, as prescribed by ASIL’s constitutive documents. The position is full-time and requires residence in the Washington, D.C. area and authorization to work in the United States. ASIL offers a competitive salary and benefits package commensurate with experience and comparable to management-level public sector and NGO positions. The Society is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status, or any other basis prohibited by law. The Society values a diverse and inclusive workforce and encourages all qualified individuals to apply.

How to apply. Please send a CV and cover letter to EDSearch[at]asil[dot]org with the following subject line: “Attention: Lucy Reed, Chair, ASIL Executive Director Search Committee”. The cover letter should explain why you are interested in being ASIL’s Executive Director, your compensation expectations, and your availability to start work as a Washington area resident, ideally by mid- September 2022. To receive appropriate consideration, your application should be received by Monday, June 20, 2022. All applications received will be acknowledged, but only finalists will be contacted further. The identities of all applicants will be kept strictly confidential.

If you would like to post an announcement on Opinio Juris, please contact John Heieck at eventsandannouncements[at]gmail[dot]com with a one-paragraph description of your announcement along with hyperlinks to more information. Thank you!