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New and emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence, are significantly altering the way in which law is being delivered and practised. These emerging technologies also mean that future lawyers will need additional skill sets to practice law and be involved in developing these new methods of providing access to law. This course provides a comprehensive overview and insight into this changing environment. The necessity for future lawyers to understand the application of technology and to critically analyse the use, benefit and consequences of new technologies means that (future) lawyers need to be adequately equipped for technological literacy and adaptability. The course is intended to promote future proofing and employability in the practice of law.

The course introduces students to new ways of thinking about the access to, and the delivery and practise of law. The course encourages students to think creatively about utilising technology and to identify potential gaps in the legal sector in terms of access and delivery of legal services. The course prepares students to embrace disruptive thinking around the use of technology in the legal sector and to give them access to hands-on experience with some of the emerging technologies. Students will be prepared and encouraged to challenge existing frameworks and technologies and to harness creativity so that they can adapt and respond to a constantly changing legal environment. The course contributes to student employability and identifies ҹɫè students as valuable assets to employers.

On successful completion of this course students should be able to:

1. demonstrate an understanding [explain and apply] of a coherent body of knowledge of the regulatory framework relating to emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence (PO/TLO 1);
2. demonstrate an understanding [explain and apply] of a coherent body of knowledge of alternative business structures for the provision of contemporary legal services (PO/TLO 1);
3. demonstrate [explain and apply] an ability to recognise and reflect upon (and a developing ability to respond to) ethical issues raised by emerging technologies that are likely to arise in professional contexts in legal practice (PO/TLO 2);
4. demonstrate the intellectual and practical skills needed to identify, research in an ethical manner, evaluate and synthesise relevant factual, legal and policy issues relating to emerging technologies (PO/TLO 4);
5. communicate in ways that are effective, appropriate and persuasive for legal and non-legal audiences and collaborate effectively in teams (PO/TLO 5).