International law encompasses many important subjects: the law governing the relationships between sovereign nations, laws affecting international business transactions, the coordination of international environmental actions, and international cooperation to protect human rights and to prosecute the commission of crimes against humanity, to name a few. Comparative law, the study of different legal systems in different countries, focuses on understanding important differences and similarities among legal systems. Iowa offers a variety of courses on topics in these areas of study. 

Faculty at Iowa law are internationally renowned for their work in international and comparative law, trade and commercial law, international environmental law, immigration law, international family law, international constitutional law, and international criminal and humanitarian law. 

In addition to academic courses, Iowa also offers a variety of opportunities for students to engage with international law at Iowa and abroad. Students have the opportunity to participate in the Transnational Law & Contemporary Problems Journal, International Law Society, International Law Students Association, and the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition. In addition to these programs, Iowa also offers various study-abroad opportunities. While these opportunities were not running during the COVID period from 2020 to 2022, some of them are operational again. Iowa has restarted its own programs in the UK (winterim) and France (summer). Additionally, it has active exchange agreements with partner universities in South Korea, Portugal, Ireland, Spain, and The Netherlands. Pre-COVID agreements with institutions in Austria and Kosovo will be considered for renewal if an Iowa student expresses interest. Pre-Covid agreements with institutions in China will be considered once US and university travel advisories are lifted as well as based on Iowa student interest. Students can also gain practical experience working in international legal settings through the Field Placement Program. Students who are interested in writing or competing on international topics or working in programs that involve international subjects are advised to study at least one of the courses in this area before doing so.