Lawyering in The Hague: An Introduction to the Roles of Counsel Practising at the ICC

This article identifies and describes the roles that counsel in independent practice may play at the International Criminal Court (ICC), as well as the rules governing the criteria to be met by counsel to be included in the List of Counsel and the appointment of counsel. It also seeks to identify legal issues concerning the roles, qualifications, and appointment of counsel that may deserve further consideration and study. In the light of the law and practice of the ICC, the article concludes that counsel may play at least four different roles in ICC proceedings, and that the meaning of the term counsel in the law and practice of the ICC lacks precision, which in turn may create problems as regards the applicability of certain legal instruments to certain categories of counsel practising at the ICC.