This course provides an introduction the international aspects of modern legal practice. Rather than focusing exclusively on public international law, it encompasses both public and private international law as well as comparative law (hence the name "transnational law"), using case studies from the areas of human rights, environment, trade, and commercial law. Themes of the class include the role of national sovereignty in the era of globalization, the "democratic deficit" of international institutions, theories about why nations obey (or disobey) international law, the ways in which nations internalize (or reject) international norms, the ways in which international institutions interact with national legal systems, and the role of non-state actors in the international system. This course is a good introduction to international legal concepts for students who intend to pursue more advanced coursework in international law, as well as a useful primer for students who do not plan to take other international classes but who want to gain basic literacy in international law.