Master of Laws in Technology, AI and Legal Services

Master of Laws

Postgraduate Diploma in Technology, AI and Legal Services

Postgraduate Diploma

Postgraduate Certificate in Technology, AI and Legal Services

Postgraduate Certificate

Master of Laws, Postgraduate Diploma, Postgraduate Certificate

Master of Laws in Technology, AI and Legal Services, Postgraduate Diploma in Technology, AI and Legal Services, Postgraduate Certificate in Technology, AI and Legal Services

PSLTAI

Students choose to take 5 modules from the list.

Elective

For the taught element of the programme; you will select any taught modules from the range of available subjects, totalling 150 credits. There are no pre-requisite modules.

Modules are offered subject to minimum numbers; where it is not possible to offer a module because of low student demand or staff unavailability, you will be given the opportunity to write a dissertation around that subject area.

Taught component

Core

You must also complete a research dissertation or project. You can choose from a 30-credit Research Dissertation or Project, or a 15-credit Research Project and the Achieving Your Career Potential module.

Research component

Programme Structure

The programme is designed to be very flexible, to meet students’ differing study objectives. It can be completed on a full-time basis over one year or part-time over two years. You can join the programme in either September or January. The focus of the programme is on face-to-face teaching and building a student community, but while we would strongly encourage you to come to London and study on campus, the blended learning design of the programme means that remote and/or asynchronous access to classes will be possible. See the How Will I Learn section for further details.

Reflect critically on how effectively principles of law, legal advice, and managing legal disputes are evolving in the light of advances in technology and the use of artificial intelligence;

Values and attitudes

Undertake independent learning and assess your own capacity for progressing to higher level studies and developing your career;

Skills

Deal with research materials ethically and appropriately.

Deal with complex issues, including those where data maybe incomplete, and where change may be having significant impact, both systematically and creatively and to reach sound judgements.

Show an appropriate knowledge of legal or professional ethics in relation to the use of technology and artificial intelligence;

Employ self-direction and originality in addressing problems or issues arising from the current state of the law in the subject area studied, and how relevant law is evolving or needs to evolve in the light of technological advances; 

Understand how techniques of research, scholarship and enquiry are used to investigate, create and interpret knowledge in law, particularly in areas where law is evolving;

Knowledge

Apply knowledge of the law, whether gained during current or previous studies, in an appropriate and, where relevant, original manner to address emerging issues of concern where selected areas of law are being impacted by technology;

Evaluate critically the ways in which technological developments and artificial intelligence are impacting on legal principles and legal practice;

Apply high quality legal and professional research skills;

Display a critical awareness of current problems and/or new insights at the forefront of law related to innovations resulting from technology and/or artificial intelligence;

Display an understanding of how skills relevant to the provision of legal services are being impacted and changed by relevant developments in relation to technology and artificial intelligence;

Display a thorough and sophisticated knowledge of selected areas where existing legal principles are developing in the light of advances made by technology and the use of artificial intelligence;

Exhibit a critical understanding of the roles of regulation and ethics in developing the use of technology and artificial intelligence.

Show acquisition of knowledge of theory and techniques related to how legal practice and the delivery of justice are developing in the light of technological advances.

Display excellent oral and written communication skills including the ability to express complex arguments clearly and accurately;

PSLTAI - Technology, AI and Legal Services 

The LLM in Technology, AI and Legal Services is an innovative Masters’ programme which will enable you to develop a critical understanding of the ways in which technological developments and artificial intelligence are impacting on legal principles and legal practice.
It is predicted that the ways in which legal services are delivered will need to be reimagined within the next one or two decades. This is because the ways in which legal obligations are formed and managed is changing, due to innovations such as blockchain and autonomous operation. It is also due to substantial changes in the ways in which legal advice is delivered, and legal disputes are managed, with a move from traditional court processes to online options. This Masters’ programme will provide insights into how and why law is changing, together with how the role of law in society is evolving in a digital age.
The Modules broadly cover three areas:
• Where new law is being developed, for example as regards the regulation and ethical use of technology and artificial intelligence. • Where existing legal principles are developing to meet new challenges, for example as regards contractual obligations, the ownership of assets, and intellectual property rights. • The ways in which legal practice and the delivery of justice is being impacted, for example as regards the development of online courts and dispute resolution processes.
The focus of the programme is on legal services, using this term in the broadest sense to cover the wide range of ways in which knowledge of law and an understanding of how legal issues can be managed can be relevant in real life situations. This will include the work of lawyers in practice, but also a wider range of ways in which public and private organisations and individuals may need to interact with the law.
All modules are underpinned by in-depth research and scholarship, to provide a strong academic understanding of relevant principles. In addition, all modules are infused with an awareness of legal practice, practitioner contact and real-world insights. This combination makes the programme suitable for those seeking to develop their academic understanding of specific areas of law impacted by technology, and also for those looking for knowledge and insights that will support their career development.
All modules include references to relevant technological developments, relevant uses of artificial intelligence, and innovations in the area. While some change is evolutionary, there is also disruptive change, and we will consider what the future might look like. The modules are delivered by those with relevant expertise in law and legal practice - more technical details of computer science are covered in outline rather than detail.

The programme can be completed full-time over one year or part-time over two years, and you will typically have around 4-6 hours of teaching each week if you study full-time, or 2-4 hours if you study part-time, depending on how many modules you choose to take each term. Each taught module is delivered over one of two 10-week terms; Autumn Term runs from September-December and Spring Term from January-April.  You will normally be expected to do 30 hours of personal study each week, engaging in reading and research, online activities, and preparing for classes. 
The LLM (Master of Laws) programme offers three modes of learning and follows leading programme design principles to provide you with blended learning which is fully supportive and coherent whilst enabling flexibility as to how and when you study. The primary emphasis is on good quality teaching to ensure that you develop a proper understanding of relevant legal knowledge and acquire relevant skills. This takes place within a flexible environment where structured online materials and other resources on the university’s virtual learning environment fully support your learning with different options for engagement with staff and other students. The core elements of this blended learning approach are: 
<ul>
<li>There is a clear week on week framework to guide you incrementally through the learning elements of each Module.  </li>
<li>This framework is provided through a systematically presented virtual learning environment (Moodle), that clearly indicates topics to be covered each week, and the work you should do.  </li>
<li>The online materials include video, audio, graphical and text-based resources, all designed to help you to prepare effectively for the relevant lecture or seminar.  </li>
<li>Each week there will be pre-reading and self-study tasks to be completed, with written or recorded guides to topics being covered to help you to acquire and assimilate knowledge prior to a class.  All classes will be conducted on the basis that required preparation has been completed.</li>
<li>Some lecture type material may be pre-recorded where appropriate to provide you with flexible access.  </li>
<li>You will have a one-hour lecture and a one-hour seminar per module each week. Seminars will be taught in small groups, normally with between 10 and 40 students.</li>
<li>The online materials will also include links to other resources, additional exercises to complete for practice, and guidance on how to get support for study.  </li>
<li>Materials are all designed to be interactive, supporting your developing knowledge of substantive law, your skills, and your practical understanding, with discussion topics and the use of realistic scenarios where appropriate.  </li>
</ul>

Curriculum Catalogue

Technology, AI and Legal Services - LLM

PSLTAI