International Law Association

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International Law Association

www.ila-hq.org

Who We Are

The International Law Association (ILA) is one of the oldest international legal organizations in the world. The ILA was founded in Brussels in 1873. It has 50 national branches and members in many more countries comprised of lawyers in private practice, government, academia, the judiciary and international organizations, as well as law students. The ILA's headquarters and secretariat are based in London. The main objectives of the ILA are the study and development of public and private international law, which occurs through the work or its committees concerned with subjects of current interest. The ILA has consultative status as an international non-governmental organization with a number if United Nations specialized agencies. The focal point of the ILA's activities are the biennial meetings which take place in different parts of the world. The most recent meeting, the 72nd biennial conference was held in Toronto, Canada. Prior meetings were in Berlin (2004), Delhi (2002) and London (2000). The 73rd biennial conference will be held in Rio De Janeiro in August 2008.
Since 1873, the ILA has been leading the way on some of the most important issues in international law. ILA committees have articulated common principles and emerging standards on topics ranging from bills of exchange (1876, 1908, 1910), aviation in time of peace (1920), international arbitration (1895, 1922, 1938, 1948, 1950), international insolvency (1938, 1946, 1954) and civil jurisdiction over corporations (2002), to a permanent international criminal court (1922, 1923), the effect of war on contracts (19380), rights to the seabed subsoil; inland water rights; international waterways and rivers (1948, 1954, 1960, 1962), the / peaceful uses of nuclear energy (1960, 1962), monetary law (1954, 1960), arbitral tribunals for foreign investment (1962) and the accountability of international organizations (2004).
Reports and resolutions of ILA committees have been adopted or relied upon by the United Nations and other international lawmaking bodies in developing many of the texts that comprise international law as we know it today. The ILA's work has been influential on many developments including State Immunity (European and UN Conventions on State Immunity) and the work at The Hague on the Convention on Jurisdiction and Enforcement of Judgments. Resolutions, reports and other publications of the ILA have been referred to in recent years in judgments of the highest courts in many countries, including the Supreme Court of the United States, the British House of Lords and the Supreme Court of Canada.
With more than 3,500 members around the world, the ILA provides a unique network of international contacts in all walks of the legal community.
Why Students Should Join
Student membership in the ILA provides an opportunity to join an international network of jurists of the highest calibre. Student membership in most national branches is available for a nominal fee or in some cases, free of charge. Students can participate in the activities of the national branches and generally benefit from greatly reduced registration fees at the biennial conferences and in branch and regional conferences and meetings.

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National Branches

American
Argentine
Australian
Austrian
Bangladesh
Belgian
Brazilian
British
Bulgarian
Canadian
Chilean
Chinese (Taiwan)
Croatian
Czech Republic
Danish
Egyptian
Estonian
Finnish
French
German
Headquarters
Hellenic
Hong Kong
Hungarian
Committees
Aspects of the Law of State Succession
Compensation for Victims of War
Cultural Heritage Law
Feminism & International Law
International Civil Litigation and the Interests of the Public
International Commercial Arbitration
International Criminal Court
International Family Law
International Human Rights Law and Practice
International Law on Biotechnology
International Law on Foreign Investment
International Law on Sustainable Development
Study Groups
Ground Water Resources
Practice and Procedure of International Tribunals / Indian
Iranian
Irish
Israel
Italian
Japan
Korean
Mexican
Netherlands
New Zealand
Norwegian
Pacific Islands
Philippines
Polish
Portuguese
Romanian
Russian
Serbia and Montenegro
Slovene
South African
Spanish
Swedish
Swiss
Turkish
International Monetary Law
International Securities Regulation
International Trade Law
Islamic Law and International Law
Non-State Actors
Nuclear Weapons, Non-Proliferation and Contemporary International Law
Outer Continental Shelf
Rights of Indigenous Peoples
Space Law
Teaching of International Law
Use of Force
Responsibility of International Organizations
UN Reform

More information about the ILA and its branches, committees and study groups, as well as information about how to join can be found at the ILA Headquarters website: www.ila-hq.org. Prospective members from countries that do not have a national branch may join as Headquarters members.

The Headquarters website also includes full texts of ILA committee reports and resolutions, as well as the current committee members.