Foreign, Comparative and International Law

The Library's Foreign, Comparative & International Law (FCIL) department is responsible for developing the FCIL collection and for providing access to these materials. The FCIL department also provides assistance to the college's foreign LL.M. students. The library has created a useful webpage with current information for LL.M. students.

The collection focuses on the laws of various Commonwealth countries (England, Australia, and Canada), the European Union, laws from important U.S. trade partners such as Mexico and Germany, and international organizations such as the United Nations, the International Labour Organization, and the International Criminal Court. The library also collects important publications focusing on the international aspects of criminal law, antitrust, trade, environmental law, immigration, human rights, intellectual property, tax, and the law of indigenous people.

Foreign laws in the library include Halsbury's Statutes of England and Wales (KD135 .H3 1985), the Canada Gazette (KE91 .C2), and the Canadian Acts of Parliament (microfiche). When looking for foreign and international legal materials, it is important to consider the vast collections of laws available online. Useful resources to consult when searching for FCIL include the following:

. Foreign Law Guide (online version is limited to users on campus; print version is at reference desk)
. Legal Information on the Internet
. UN Readex (CD-ROM access on computers across from reference desk)
. Treaties and International Agreements Online (limited to users on campus.)
. United Nations Treaty Series (available in print on the 6th floor; available online from campus.)
. The 10-part International Law Video Course (circulation desk)

The FCIL department has created several guides to get you started in foreign and international legal research. The following areas of research are covered:

. European Union
. International Court of Justice
. International Environmental Law
. International Human Rights Law
. International Refugee Law
. Searching for U.S. and International Treaties
. Searching for United Nations Resolutions

If you have questions about the Hastings College of Law Library's FCIL department, feel free to contact:
Vincent Moyer - Librarian: Foreign, Comparative & International Law

Last updated December 5, 2008