Melbourne Journal of International Law


The Melbourne Journal of International Law is a biannual peer-reviewed law review associated with Melbourne Law School which covers all areas of public and private international law. It was established in 2000 and is one of two student-run law journals at the University of Melbourne. MJIL is edited and managed by an editorial board of around 70 law students of Melbourne Law School, overseen by three Editors, Faculty Advisors and an Advisory Board. Students are selected to be part of the editorial board via a rigorous process based on their abilities, aptitude, enthusiasm and editing skills.
The 2020 Editors are Betty Choi, Jake Fava and Sophie Ward.
Together with the Melbourne University Law Review, the Journal produces the Australian Guide to Legal Citation.

History

Establishment

MJIL was established in 2000 by its founding Editors: Suzan Davies, Peter Henley, Kalika Jayasekera, Amanda Rologas and Tracy Whiriskey; and the Law Faculty of the University of Melbourne. The Journal was established in recognition of the shortage of academic and practice-oriented material dealing with the Asia-Pacific region's relationship with both private and public international law.

Objectives

MJIL is a generalist international law academic journal. Its content encompasses both private and public international law. The Journal was established as a forum for academics to publish modern perspectives on international law. MJIL aims to facilitate informed and considered discussion of contemporary international issues. It is invested in publishing a wide range of styles, perspectives and opinions through articles, book reviews, case notes, commentaries, review essays and think pieces.

Notable Contributors

''MJIL'' Publications

MJIL publishes two issues per year in July and December. However, volume one was published as a single issue. Each issue is available in hard copy format and online on various legal journal databases.

Advance Access Policy

In 2016, MJIL introduced an advance access policy. Articles that have passed the entire editing process well before final publication in its corresponding issue are uploaded on the as an advance copy. This ensures that the author’s work is disseminated as early as possible. Advanced versions are subject to change prior to the final print and online publication of the article.

Past Symposiums, Special Focus and Special Feature Issues

The Journal produces symposium issues devoted to particular aspects of international law. Past symposium and special focus issues include:
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
MJIL also publishes ‘special features’ if one or several articles provide an in-depth focus on a topical issue of international law, or otherwise to highlight pieces of unique contribution to international law academia.

''Australian Guide to Legal Citation''

In collaboration with the Melbourne University Law Review, the Journal publishes the Australian Guide to Legal Citation. The Australian Guide to Legal Citation is the most widely used legal citation style-guide in the Australian legal community. The AGLC is in its 4th edition and was published in November 2018.

''MJIL'' Prize

The ‘Melbourne Journal of International Law Prize for Outstanding Scholarship in International Law’ is awarded annually to an author whose article or commentary was published in MJIL in the previous calendar year. Its goal is to promote and reward significant scholarly contributions to international law. Adjudged winners of the MJIL Prize are considered to have demonstrated the most thought-provoking engagement with relevant areas, events and issues in international law for that volume. The prize was introduced by the 2019 Editors and was first awarded to joint winners for their articles published in volume 19.
The prize is judged by a panel of three eminent international law scholars appointed by the Editors of MJIL. At least one member of the Panel must be a member of MJIL’s Advisory Board. An AUD$1000 financial sum is attached to the MJIL Prize.
YearAuthorTitleVolumeIssueStarting PageType
2019Gabrielle Holly1952Article
2019Cait Storr19335Article

Sir Kenneth Bailey Memorial Lecture

MJIL has co-hosted the Sir Kenneth Bailey Memorial Lecture with the Melbourne Law School since 2016. The Sir Kenneth Bailey Memorial Lecture was inaugurated in 1999, at the Commemoration of the Centenary of the 1899 Hague Peace Conference held at the University of Melbourne. The lecture, which focuses on the international legal order, honours the Fourth Dean of the Melbourne Law School, Kenneth Hamilton Bailey, who played a significant part in Australia's contribution to the formation of the United Nations.
Past lectures have been recorded and uploaded on the MJIL website. The lectures are occasionally published in the following MJIL issue if the speaker approves.
YearSpeakerTopic
2016Professor Guy Goodwin-GillInternational Refugee Law: Yesterday, Today, but Tomorrow?
2017Emeritus Professor Gillian TriggsThe Rule of Law in a Post-Truth Era
2018Professor Joseph H. H. WeilerReconsidering the Trial of Jesus: A Reading for Our Times
2019Professor Lavanya RajamaniInnovation and Experimentation in the International Climate Change Regime
2020Professor Gerry Simpson'The atomics': How Might International Law Respond to the Prospect of Nuclear Annihilation?

Advisors

MJIL is supported by the Law Faculty of the University of Melbourne. Those with an asterisk next to their name are also Faculty Advisors to the Editors.

Advisory Board

The Advisory Board is composed of Melbourne Law School faculty members and provides guidance to the Editorial Board on matters of content and policy. The current members of the Advisory Board are:
The Honorary Advisory Board is composed of scholars and legal practitioners who have made an outstanding contribution to international law and who have contributed to MJIL and its running. The current members of the Honorary Advisory Board are: