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The purpose of the Module is to enable you to acquire knowledge and understanding of the key concepts and relevance of law and information technology and to critically analyse and evaluate the implications of information technology and media on society and legal practice.
The focus is on three concepts: Regulation, Risk and Practice. These three concepts will then enable flexibility in the delivery of discrete topics. The topics below are indicative for the purposes of the proposed Module and for delivery in 2021-22 but given the nature of the topic of the Module will be expected to respond to change and adapt over time. The regulation of information technology and its impact on law and legal practice is the introductory theme to the Module. The second theme considers risks in law and information technology. It considers discrete topics where risks in law and information technology arise and the response of legal practice to such risks. Examples include the role of contract law in cloud computing, blockchain and smart contracts; contract management systems and data management including protection and privacy / legal data; and cybercrime and cyber security. The third theme is concerned with the impact of law and information technology on society. For example, indicative topics may include Information technology and the gig economy; the liability of online platforms/intermediaries; and international jurisdiction and applicable law and/or dispute resolution/ADR/ODR platforms. The third theme considers the interaction between Information technology and legal practice. Within this theme indicative topics may include Artificial Intelligence: natural language processing and machine learning/automation and risk; and access to justice, legal advice, adjudication and the role of courts.

LO1: Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the main areas of law and legal practice concerned with, influenced or affected by information technology;
LO2: Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of different approaches taken by relevant international conventions (and where applicable EU) regulations, directives, UK statutes and UK (and where applicable EU) case law on the regulation of information technology to society generally and its impact on legal practice;
LO3: Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the legal implications of information technology and media such as machine learning, artificial intelligence and other technologies that affect society and in turn legal practice;
LO4: Critically analyse and evaluate the way information technology relates to broader paradigms of the rule of law and access to justice;
LO5: Conduct independent research that demonstrates an understanding of principles, policy and substantive law, and to communicate complex ideas in writing.