LLM Law and Technology Queen's University Belfast

This advanced programme helps students gain a deep appreciation of how law interacts with technological innovation. 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. We embed skills-development directly into the curriculum as such, through project-based learning work, computational skills and elsewhere.

Law And Technology Highlights

Career Development

• We are dedicated to student employability and have strong industry links. Law was ranked Top 10 in the UK for graduate prospects (Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2022) 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. Employers will be involved in assisting on project-based learning and in delivering guest lectures to students.

World-Class Facilities

• Our facilities at Queen’s include a state-of-art Law building with superb teaching facilities, a moot court and study spaces. Queen’s has one of the most modern campuses in the UK, including the award winning McClay Library, one of the finest libraries in the world and home to 1.2 million volumes and over 2,000 reader places. Our Physical Education Centre was used as a training camp for the 2012 Olympics. Our Queen’s Elms Student Village and city centre student accommodation (built in 2018) are located within easy walking distance of the University.

Internationally Renowned Experts

• Law at Queen's is taught by world-leading experts in the area of Law. Our staff have close research links with the professions, government and Civil Society. Law at Queen's is in the top 150 Law Schools worldwide and we are ranked 19th in the world for global outlook. Research in Law was ranked 8th in the UK in the most recent Research Assessment Exercise (2021).

Student Experience

• This programme will equip you with a thorough and crucial understanding of the key questions we face regarding the regulation and governance technologies. You will possess a deep appreciation of matters in the regulation of technology, borne from both classroom and project based experience. You will have developed a sophisticated sense of how technology interacts with law, but also a sense of how law and technology are operationalised in legal practice. At Queen's you will be part of a thriving postgraduate culture built on teaching excellence, leading-edge research, innovation, collaboration and engagement. These components are woven together in our Graduate School. It is here you will develop new skills and increased personal effectiveness that will enable you to stand out in the crowded and increasingly competitive global job market. Life at Queen's is not just about the degree. We offer our students the opportunity to really enrich their studies. Whether you're into student societies, sports, music, dance, or just a coffee with your friends, Queen's has exceptional facilities to cater for all interests.Queen’s was ranked 9th in the UK for university facilities.

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.

Graduate plus award for extra-curricular skills

In addition to your degree programme, at Queen's you can have the opportunity to gain wider life, academic and employability skills. For example, placements, voluntary work, clubs, societies, sports and lots more. So not only do you graduate with a degree recognised from a world leading university, you'll have practical national and international experience plus a wider exposure to life overall. We call this Graduate Plus. It's what makes studying at Queen's University Belfast special.

Compulsory Modules

• Law and the Challenges of Technology
• Regulating Innovation
• Law and Technology: project-based learning
• Approaches to Legal Research
• Dissertation

Optional Modules

• Computational methods and skills
• Foundations of Cybersecurity
• Copyright in the Digital Environment
• International Financial Law
• Business and Human Rights
• Advanced Issues in Medical Law and Ethics
• Comparative Competition Law: the Case of the EU as the Leading Model
• Leadership and Innovation Skills for Law Students
• Data, privacy and the law
• Regulating digital communications
• Making Medical Technologies

Learning and Teaching

Learning opportunities associated with the course are outlined below:

Learning and Teaching Opportunities

The Law School at Queen's is ranked as one of the top schools in the UK and Ireland. There are over 950 undergraduate students enrolled in the School, 260 postgraduates, 70 PhD students and over 50 members of academic staff. You will be taught by scholars from all over the world, many of whom have international reputations in their fields and all are committed teachers and researchers. Students will also have access to an excellent law section in the library and extensive IT facilities.

The School operates a proactive system of student support. Programme Coordinators are allocated to each degree programme tasked to guide and support you throughout your time with us, together with the School's experienced and helpful administrative staff. We place considerable emphasis on facilitating good communication between staff and students. To this end, a Student Voice Consultative Committee, comprised of elected student representatives, the Director of Graduate Studies and other members of academic staff, meet at regular intervals throughout the academic year. This Committee provides students with a forum in which to raise matters of concern to them and also enables the School to keep students informed about matters affecting the School and wider university.

At Queen’s, we aim to deliver a high-quality learning environment that embeds intellectual curiosity, innovation and best practice in learning, teaching and student support to enable students to achieve their full academic potential. We do this by providing a range of learning experiences that enables our students to engage with subject experts, develop attributes and perspectives that will equip them for life and work in a global society and make use of innovative technologies and a world-class library that enhances their development as independent, life-long learners. Examples of the opportunities provided for learning on this course are:

E-Learning technologies

Information associated with lectures and assignments is communicated via a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) called Queen’s Online. A range of e-learning experiences are also embedded in the programme through, for example, interactive group workshops in a flexible learning space; podcasts and interactive web-based learning activities; opportunities to use IT programmes associated with design in project-based work etc.

Lectures

Provide information about topics as a starting point for further self-directed private study/reading. Lectures also provide opportunities to ask questions, gain some feedback and advice on assessments (normally delivered in large groups to all year group peers).

Self-directed study

This is an essential part of life as a Queen’s Law student when important private reading and research, engagement with e-learning resources, reflection on feedback to date and assignment research and preparation work is carried out.

Seminars/tutorials

These provide an opportunity for students to engage with academic staff who have specialist knowledge of the topic, to ask questions of them and to assess their own progress and understanding with the support of peers. Students should also expect to make presentations and other contributions to these groups.

Assessment

Assessments associated with the course are outlined below:

• Assessed coursework
• Dissertation