American Society of International Law

The American Society of International Law (ASIL) is a United States professional association devoted to the study, development, teaching, and practical application of international law. It brings together international lawyers, scholars, judges, diplomats, government officials, students, and other specialists whose work concerns the legal dimensions of relations among states, international organizations, businesses, and individuals. Although headquartered in Washington, D.C., the Society operates in an international professional and academic field through publications, conferences, research resources, educational programming, and engagement with the broader legal and policy community. ASIL emerged from discussions among participants in the Lake Mohonk Conference on International Arbitration. Those participants concluded that the growing field of international law required an organization distinct from one focused primarily on arbitration. At a meeting held on December 9, 1905, at the residence of Oscar S. Straus, participants agreed to establish the Society. The organization was founded in 1906, and its first annual meeting took place in Washington, D.C., on April 19–20, 1907. Elihu Root served as its first president until 1924, followed by Charles Evans Hughes, who led the Society until 1929. The Society's institutional role expanded over time. Its offices were initially located at the home of James Brown Scott, an important figure in its early development, before moving in 1911 to the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. In 1950, the United States Congress granted ASIL a charter to foster the study of international law and to promote international relations based on law and justice. The congressional charter reflects the Society's dual identity as both a learned society and a public-facing institution concerned with the legal foundations of international affairs. ASIL's principal activities include publishing scholarly and practice-oriented legal materials, convening its annual meeting, supporting discussion of current international-law issues, and maintaining resources for lawyers, researchers, educators, and students. Its publications include The American Journal of International Law, a quarterly scholarly journal; International Legal Materials, which has appeared every other month since 1962 and provides access to important international legal documents; the Benchbook on International Law; and proceedings from the Society's annual meeting. The Society also sponsors the annual Grotius Lecture series and participates in professional and learned-society networks. ASIL holds Category II consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council and is a constituent society of the American Council of Learned Societies. These relationships place it within a wider international and academic infrastructure rather than a commercial brand portfolio. Its positioning is therefore based on authority, professional community, research quality, legal education, and the practical communication of international-law developments. Financial results, commercial ownership, and stock-market information are not applicable or publicly established in the supplied reference material.

The American Society of International Law developed out of the early twentieth-century movement to organize international legal scholarship and professional practice in the United States. Participants in the Lake Mohonk Conference on International Arbitration recognized that international law involved a broader field than arbitration alone. At a meeting on December 9, 1905, held at Oscar S. Straus's residence, they agreed to create a separate society devoted to international law. ASIL was founded in 1906. The Society held its first annual meeting in Washington, D.C., on April 19–20, 1907. Elihu Root became its first president and remained in that role until 1924. His successor, Charles Evans Hughes, served from 1924 to 1929, leaving the presidency when he became a judge on the Permanent Court of International Justice at The Hague. These early presidencies connected ASIL with prominent American public officials and helped establish its role within the country's legal and diplomatic communities. ASIL's early administrative history was closely associated with James Brown Scott, whose home housed the organization's offices until 1911. The offices then moved to the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. This move reflected the Society's links with the broader institutional infrastructure supporting international peace, legal scholarship, and international affairs. A major institutional milestone came in 1950, when the United States Congress chartered the Society. The charter described its purpose as fostering the study of international law and promoting the establishment and maintenance of international relations founded on law and justice. The congressional charter reinforced ASIL's identity as a learned and public-interest organization rather than a commercial enterprise. Over the following decades, ASIL built a substantial publication and convening program. The American Journal of International Law became its principal scholarly journal and is published quarterly. International Legal Materials, published every other month since 1962, provides lawyers and researchers with important international legal documents. The Society also produces the Benchbook on International Law and publishes proceedings associated with its annual meeting. Its educational and professional activities include the annual meeting, lectures, panels, and other forums for discussion of international legal developments. The Grotius Lecture is among the recurring lecture programs associated with the Society. ASIL's institutional reach extends beyond the United States. It holds Category II consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council and is a constituent society of the American Council of Learned Societies. Through these affiliations, publications, and professional programs, the Society serves as a bridge among legal scholarship, professional practice, government, diplomacy, and international policy. Its continuing relevance derives from its role as a venue for examining how legal rules shape international relations and how international legal institutions respond to changing global problems.

• 1962

  International Legal Materials publication period begins

  [1]American Society of International Lawen.wikipedia.org

  International Legal Materials began its continuing every-other-month publication schedule.

• 1950

  Congressional charter

  [1]American Society of International Lawen.wikipedia.org

  The United States Congress chartered ASIL to foster the study of international law and promote international relations grounded in law and justice.

• 1924

  Presidency passed from Elihu Root to Charles Evans Hughes

  [1]American Society of International Lawen.wikipedia.org

  Charles Evans Hughes succeeded Elihu Root as president of ASIL.

• 1911

  Office relocation

  [1]American Society of International Lawen.wikipedia.org

  The Society moved its offices from James Brown Scott's home to the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

• 1907

  First annual meeting

  [1]American Society of International Lawen.wikipedia.org

  ASIL held its first annual meeting in Washington, D.C., on April 19–20.

• 1906

  Society founded

  [1]American Society of International Lawen.wikipedia.org

  The American Society of International Law was established as a professional and learned organization for the study and advancement of international law.

• 1905

  Founding decision

  [1]American Society of International Lawen.wikipedia.org

  Participants meeting at Oscar S. Straus's residence on December 9 agreed to establish a society focused specifically on international law rather than international arbitration alone.

A noncommercial learned society and professional network positioned as a trusted source of international-law scholarship, professional exchange, legal education, and practical resources for understanding international relations through law and justice.

• Scholarly journal

  The American Journal of International Law

  ASIL's flagship scholarly journal, published quarterly, covering international legal doctrine, institutions, disputes, state practice, and major developments in the field. It serves an academic and professional readership and is a central part of the Society's identity as a learned organization.

• Legal document publication · 1962

  International Legal Materials

  A recurring publication that gathers and presents significant international legal documents for researchers and practitioners. It has been published every other month since 1962 and supports access to treaties, decisions, official materials, and other primary legal sources.

• Legal reference

  Benchbook on International Law

  A practical reference resource addressing international-law issues for legal professionals. Its benchbook format emphasizes usability in legal work and complements ASIL's more traditional scholarly publications.

• Conference publication

  ASIL Annual Meeting Proceedings

  Published proceedings documenting the Society's annual meeting and its discussions of significant international-law questions. The proceedings extend the educational and archival value of ASIL's principal professional gathering.

• Lecture series

  Grotius Lecture

  An annual lecture series sponsored by ASIL, named for the influential international-law thinker Hugo Grotius. It provides a prominent forum for addressing major questions in international law and global affairs.

1. 1American Society of International Lawen.wikipedia.org
2. 2American Society of International Law official websiteasil.org
3. 3American Society of International Law records, 1906–2023rockarch.org