The idea for this series began in June 2005 when Kim Rubenstein applied for the position of Professor and Director of the Centre for International and Public Law at the ANU College of Law. The Centre is recognized as the leading Australian academic centre bringing together public lawyers (constitutional and administrative law broadly, but also specific areas of government regulation) and international lawyers from around the world. Established in 1990 with its inaugural director Professor Philip Alston, the impact of the Centre and its work can be seen further at law.anu.edu.au/cipl/.

In discussing with the law faculty ideas for the Centre's direction, Kim raised the concept that underpins this series. Each volume flows from workshops bringing public and international lawyers and public and international policy makers together for interdisciplinary discussion on selected topics and themes. The workshops attract both established scholars and outstanding early scholars. At each of the workshops participants address specific questions and issues, developing each other's understandings and knowledge about public and international law and policy and the links between the disciplines as they intersect with the chosen subject. These papers are discussed and reviewed at the workshop collaboratively. After the workshop the papers are finalized for the editing phase for the overall manuscript.

The series seeks to broaden both public law and international laws' understanding of how these two areas intersect. Until now, international and public law have mainly overlapped in discussions on how international law is implemented domestically.