LAW AND TECHNOLOGY - 2021/2
Module code: LAW3135
Module Overview
This module considers the legal, regulatory and commercial issues relating to the emergence of new technologies, processes and automation. It reflects on the ensuing impact on the digital economy, the wider business community and legal profession, taking account of the unprecedented transformation in digitisation of the law and how law firms operate in the 21st century.. The module examines how new innovations in law and technology can be used to solve problems and provides students with practical project-based experience. Law students will gain an insight into the social, legal and economic implications of emerging technologies and evaluate the moral and ethical issues related to the automated legal advice tools and the wider ethical concerns of artificial intelligence. Students will have the opportunity to explore ways in which the advancement of technology can be harnessed to promote and widen access to justice.
Module provider
School of Law
Module Leader
WILLIAMS Elizabeth (Schl of Law)
Number of Credits: 15
ECTS Credits: 7.5
Framework: FHEQ Level 6
Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A
Overall student workload
Independent Learning Hours: 66
Seminar Hours: 33
Guided Learning: 40
Captured Content: 11
Module Availability
Semester 1
Prerequisites / Co-requisites
None
Module content
Indicative content includes:
1. Introduction to Law and Technology
Unit 1 - Law Tech and the Legal Profession
2. Contract Life Cycle Management
3. Blockchain in the law
4. Smart Contracts
5. Legal Agreement Data Modelling
Unit 2 - Fairness, Trust and Automation
6. Algorithmic Fairness
7. Automated Legal Advice
8. Automated Judging
Unit 3 - Areas of Law Adapting to New Technology
9. Cybercrime
10. Cybersecurity
11. Gig economy and its legal implications
Assessment pattern
| Assessment type | Unit of assessment | Weighting |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework | 3000 WORD ESSAY | 100 |
Alternative Assessment
N/A
Assessment Strategy
Summative Assessment:
Students are assessed through two pieces of coursework (100%).
Assessment 1 will be in the form of 1000 word project-based assessment (30%)
Assessment 2 will be in the form of a 2000 word essay (70%)
Formative Assessment and Feedback:
Project Based-Assessment - 500 words
Essay- 1000 words
Module aims
- To explore the law of emerging technologies
- Evaluate how automated technologies and the law can be used to solve social and legal problems
- Critically assess the social, legal and economic implications of automated technologies
- Examine the moral and ethical issues related to the automated legal advice tools and the wider ethical concerns of AI
- Understand how the advancement in technology can be harnessed to promote and widen access to justice
- Highlight the transformation in digitisation of the law and the way law firms operate in the 21st century
Learning outcomes
| Attributes Developed | ||
| 001 | Analyse the direct and indirect legal implications and consequences of the developmenet of technologies | CK |
| 002 | Evaluate the variety of ways in which technology can be used | CK |
| 003 | Identify the challenges society grapples with due to new and emerging technologies | CK |
| 004 | Understand Contract Lifecycle Management | CKP |
| 005 | Demonstrate critical and legalistic thinking to solve problems | CKPT |
| 006 | Explore areas for development and reform | CK |
| 007 | Demonstrate digital lawyering skills | CKPT |
| 008 | Develop competent and critical arguments regarding the challenges posed by new technologies | CKT |
| 009 | Demonstrate problem solving skills | CKPT |
| 010 | Demonstrate independent research, legal skills and writing, evaluation, analysis and synthesis | KPT |
| 011 | Demonstrate an understanding of legal agreement data modelling | CK |
| 012 | Critically assess regulatory changes in the management of legal data | CK |
| 013 | Demonstrate an understanding of the development of smart contract technology and how a smart contract works. | CK |
| 014 | Explore the operational aspects of Blockchain | CK |
| 015 | Critically assess cybercrime and cybersecurity concerns in the use of technology | CK |
| 016 | Critically evaluate the concept of 'data' and data models | CK |
| 017 | Evaluate current and potential developments of the technology applicable to the access to justice sector | CK |
| 018 | Critically assess innovations in practice management and innovation to help individuals with legal needs | CK |
| 019 | Demonstrate an understanding of the legal issuses created by the Gig Economy | CK |
Attributes Developed
C - Cognitive/analytical
K - Subject knowledge
T - Transferable skills
P - Professional/Practical skills
Methods of Teaching / Learning
The teaching strategy adopts a flexible learning approach designed to introduce students to a range of topics through a combination of interactive seminars and group project work, delivered by academics and external legal practitioners (subject to availability).
Digital lawyering skills will be blended with the substantive subject-specific seminars.
The learning and teaching methods would typically comprise:
3 Hour Seminars X 11 weeks
Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.
Reading list
https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: LAW3135
Other information
This module has a capped number and may not be available to ERASMUS and other international exchange students. Please check with the International Engagement Office email: ieo.incoming@surrey.ac.uk
Programmes this module appears in
| Programme | Semester | Classification | Qualifying conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Law with Criminology LLB (Hons) | 1 | Optional | A weighted aggregate mark of 40% is required to pass the module |
| Law LLB (Hons) | 1 | Optional | A weighted aggregate mark of 40% is required to pass the module |
| Law with International Relations LLB (Hons) | 1 | Optional | A weighted aggregate mark of 40% is required to pass the module |
| Law (Law and Technology Pathway) LLB (Hons) | 1 | Compulsory | A weighted aggregate mark of 40% is required to pass the module |
| Law (Philosophy, Politics and Law Pathway) LLB (Hons) | 1 | Optional | A weighted aggregate mark of 40% is required to pass the module |
Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2021/2 academic year.