Monica Hakimi

James V. Campbell Professor of Law

Public International LawU.S. Foreign Relations LawInternational Human Rights

Monica Hakimi is one of the leading international law scholars in the United States and serves as co-editor-in-chief of the American Journal of International Law. Before entering academia, she served as attorney-adviser in the Office of the Legal Adviser at the U.S. State Department, counseling policymakers on nuclear nonproliferation, Iraq reconstruction, and international investment disputes. She has served as Associate Dean for Faculty Research at Michigan Law and is extensively published in the field of public international law.

Teaching Style

Professor Hakimi combines doctrinal rigor with theoretical depth, pushing students to think critically about how international law actually operates in practice rather than how it is idealized in theory. She uses a Socratic approach that emphasizes close reading of treaties, customary international law, and state practice. Having served as an attorney-adviser at the State Department, she brings a practitioner's perspective to classroom discussions about real-world international legal challenges.

Cold Call Tips

  1. 1Understand the sources of international law and be ready to discuss how they interact
  2. 2Be prepared to analyze state practice and its relationship to legal norms
  3. 3Read treaty provisions and advisory opinions carefully for the nuances in language
  4. 4Think about the institutional dynamics of international organizations and dispute settlement bodies

Areas of Expertise

International LawLaw of Armed ConflictInternational Human RightsU.S. Foreign Relations LawInternational Institutional Design

Education

  • J.D., Yale Law School
  • B.A., Duke University, summa cum laude

Notable Publications

  • International Law (co-authored casebook)
  • Co-Editor-in-Chief, American Journal of International Law

Research Interests

International Law and the Use of ForceNuclear NonproliferationInternational Institutional DesignHuman Security and International LawCustomary International Law Formation

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