Introduction: Definition of Terms

Before you begin researching international law, it is important to know the difference between international law (both public and private), foreign law, and comparative law. While this tutorial is limited to researching public international law, the researcher should have an understanding of basic definitions. Most people refer to both foreign law and international law as "international law" generally. By knowing that there is a difference between international law and foreign law, you will be better able to determine where to focus your research.