Bochum IHL Clinic
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BOCHUM INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW CLINIC (IHL CLINIC)

Lecturer: Prof. Dr. Robert Heinsch
(DAAD Guest Professor at the IFHV; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.		 1
WHAT IS THE BOCHUM IHL CLINIC ALL ABOUT?
  • Professional legal education in the English legal language (§7 Abs. 1 JAG NRW)
  • Elective Course in the Certificate Program of the Legal Faculty
  • Preparation for a future career in an international environment
  • Visit lectures, produce a report, and present your findings in Berlin!
2   The Bochum IHL Clinic enables selected students to learn through experience by applying legal theory to real-world situations. It also allows students to acquire and develop skills in legal research, critical thinking, legal analysis, and problem solving. The students conduct research on projects for real life cooperation partners, such as the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the German Red Cross or humanitarian non-governmental organizations. The different projects under the umbrella of the Bochum IHL Clinic may draw from any topic within the variety of legal issues currently challenging the field, including the scope of application of IHL, the legality of certain types of weaponry, as well as the relationship between IHL, human rights law (HRL) and refugee law.

WHO CAN PARTICIPATE?

The course is limited to 4 law students (SPB 4 students and interested others).
The entrance requirements for the IHL Clinic are a sound knowledge of English, at least three completed semesters of study and an interest in international humanitarian law as well as in the interdisciplinary exchange with other students. Your application should consist of

  • a one-page motivation letter,
  • an updated CV,
  • and an overview of the grades achieved during the course of your studies.

All documents should be in English, and be contained in one pdf document, which carries the last name of the applicant in its title.

If you are interested in participating in the Bochum IHL clinic, please submit your application by Sunday, 30 September 2018, 23:59h to the following email address: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.


WHAT IS THE WORKLOAD?

The law students work in groups together with students from the Joint Master's Programme in International Humanitarian Action (NOHA Master). The aim is to establish a mid-term project in which students, with the help of close supervision, have the chance to produce a substantive report of high quality on issues raised by the cooperation partners within a period of overall four months (October - January). The law students support their group with their specific legal skills and knowledge making this a fruitful exchange between students from different backgrounds. The law students have certain dates (see above) when their attendance is obligatory.

The Clinic includes lectures in international humanitarian law, international criminal law and human rights law, as well as common seminar sessions, in which the students will present, discuss and get feedback on their work progress. Participants of the IHL Clinic will not only have the chance to get in regular contact with the cooperation partners (i.e. possible future employers in the humanitarian field), but also exchange their experiences with members from other universities, that are part of an international IHL Clinic cooperation (for details, follow this Link). The students will have the chance to present and discuss their draft paper at the German Red Cross Headquarters during a Berlin-trip in November. During this two-day training session, students will receive additional presentations by IHL experts from the German Red Cross, the Ministry of Defense, and can exchange their experiences with fellow students from the IHL clinic at Giessen University.

This course can be selected as an elective course in the Certificate Program of the Legal Faculty.

For more information, check this [PDF] presentation.

Obligatory Attendance1:

Tuesday,      09.10.2018, 09:00 – 13:15   Kickoff IHL Clinic and IHL Lecture
Tuesday,      23.10.2018, 10:00 – 13:15   Lecture
Tuesday,      30.10.2018, 14:15 – 17:30   Lecture
Wednesday, 07.11.2018, 16:00 – 17:30   Common Seminar Session
Tuesday,      20.11.2018, 14:15 – 17:30   Lecture and Common Seminar Session
Tuesday,      04.12.2018, 14:15 – 17:30   Lecture and Common Seminar Session
Wednesday, 09.01.2018, 16:00 – 17:30   Common Seminar Session

1The detailed dates and times might be subject to change.

Additional coaching sessions will be scheduled on Wednesday afternoons in close consultation with the students and depending on the working progress.

Venue: IFHV Bochumer Fenster 4th floor, Room 4.46-4.47

If you have any further questions, do not hesitate to contact Timeela Manandhar at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..		    


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