Law - Law & Technology

Overview

This advanced programme helps students gain a deep appreciation of how law interacts with technological innovation, for instance, with generative AI; or autonomous vehicles; or algorithmic decision-making in courts. What social challenges are posed by technological change? How does law address those challenges? And what impact does technological innovation have on the practice of law?



Drawing on the School of Law’s substantial profile in technology, e-governance, intellectual property and innovation, students on the programme have the opportunity to develop specialist expertise in law, governance and the ‘fourth industrial revolution.’



The programme places employability skills at its heart. Employers are very interested in law graduates who are tech-savvy and are clear and comfortable communicators, whether with clients or more generally. Guest contributors from major firms co-create our curriculum and are active in introducing LawTech applications in our teaching. We embed skills-development directly into the curriculum as such, through project-based learning work, computational skills and elsewhere.



Course Structure

Students may enrol on a full-time (1 year) or part-time (2 years) basis. Students must complete core modules (80 CATS points), optional modules (40 CATS points) and a research dissertation (60 CATS points).



The Masters is awarded to students who successfully complete all taught modules (120 CATS points) and a research dissertation (60 CATS points).

The information below is intended as an example only, featuring module details for the current year of study (2024/25). Modules are reviewed on an annual basis and may be subject to future changes – revised details will be published through Programme Specifications ahead of each academic year.



Year 1

Core Modules

• Approaches to Legal Research (10 credits)

• Law and the Challenges of Technology (20 credits)

• Innovation & Creativity Clinic: Project Based Learning (10 credits)

• Data, Privacy and the Law (10 credits)

• Dissertation (Law and Technology) (60 credits)

• Regulating Innovation (20 credits)



Optional Modules

• Regulating Reality: The Law of Misinformation (20 credits)

• Business and Human Rights (20 credits)

• Platform Regulation:IP Enforcement & Content Moderation (10 credits)

• (Metaverse Law) Copyright, Trademarks & Immersive Technologies (10 credits)

• Artificial Intelligence and the Law (20 credits)

• Computational Methods and Skills (10 credits)

• Advanced Issues in Medical Law and Ethics (20 credits)

• Foundations of Cyber Security (10 credits)

• Dissertation in Practice (60 credits)

• Critical Approaches International Economic Law (20 credits)

Graduate

Applicants with a primary degree in a relevant/cognate subject: Normally a strong 2.2 Honours degree (with a minimum of 55%) or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University in Law, Social Sciences, Humanities, Computer Science or a cognate discipline. Applicants with a 2:2 Honours degree with below 55% in a cognate discipline (or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University) along with a minimum of 2 years relevant experience may be considered.



Applicants with a 2:2 Honours degree or above in other disciplines may be considered if they can demonstrate 2 years relevant experience.



Exemption from these requirements may be considered for those applicants who hold a Master's degree in a relevant subject (or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University).



Admission under Recognition of Prior Experiential Learning (RPEL) may be considered for this course. The University's Recognition of Prior Learning Policy provides guidance on the assessment of experiential learning (RPEL). Please visit http://go.qub.ac.uk/RPLpolicy for more information.



International Students

Please see International Student's link below.

Applicants are advised to apply as early as possible and ideally no later than 29th August 2025.



In the event that any programme receives a high number of applications, the University reserves the right to close the application portal.



Notifications to this effect will appear on the application portal against the programme application page.

Assessment


Assessments associated with the course are outlined below:


Assessed coursework

Dissertation

1 year (Full-time)

2 years (Part-time)



Contact Teaching Hours

Small Group Teaching/Personal Tutorial

8 (hours maximum)



In addition to 6-8 hrs of teaching per week , students should set aside 10-12 hours per module for reading and preparation to engage meaningfully in classroom discussions, group work and other forms of active engagement.

Entry Year: 2025/26

Career Prospects

Introduction

This employer focused programme places employability skills at the core of the student experience (including problem based learning and leadership modules), introducing students to the interplay of and interfaces between technology and law.