The Fifth Polar Law Symposium was held at the Arctic Centre of the University of Lapland (Rovaniemi, Finland) on 6^th to 8^th September 2012.

The Symposium brought together internationally renowned scholars, partaking in both Antarctic and Arctic research, from different parts of the globe. Previous symposia have proven to be extremely successful in promoting both scholarship and understanding of polar issues. Their outcomes were beneficial to scholars, students and academicians, government agencies, policy makers, jurists and various stakeholders alike.