| Unit name | Advanced Information Technology Law |
|---|---|
| Unit code | LAWDM0181 |
| Credit points | 30 |
| Level of study | M/7 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
| Unit director | Dr. Ioannou |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
None. |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
Check your programme requirements. |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
None. |
| School/department | University of Bristol Law School |
| Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
Why is this unit important?
In the Advanced Information Technology Law unit, you will explore in further depth some of the most intriguing issues in IT law. You will learn how to research and critically analyse the developments in law relating to emerging digital technologies, tech-enabled practices and ecosystems such as Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain, Digital Platforms, and the Internet of Things. A proficient lawyer in this domain must learn how to foresee the legal challenges these phenomena present, and how to keep up to date with the latest trends. The Advanced Information Technology Law unit is designed to help you gain these skills and the confidence to tackle various related challenges independently. As such, this research-led unit builds on original Bristol Law School research and gives you an opportunity to engage with Bristol’s leading experts and their latest work in this field.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study?
This unit forms part of the LLM in Law, Innovation and Technology programme, but can be taken by other law students too. It provides a deeper understanding of Information Technology Law and additionally aims to develop enhanced independent research skills. As such, the unit will help you to prepare for the final dissertation. Students taking this unit will typically have had some exposure to the basics of IT law, whether through taking LAWDM0070 or via previous studies.
An overview of content
The unit provides an overview and critical assessment of current issues in information technology law. Hence its content goes above and beyond of what may be perceived as traditional IT law and is not confined to the law of one jurisdiction. Indicative themes taught by tutors with relevant expertise are:
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit?
The knowledge gained through this unit empowers you to develop advanced expertise in various facets of a digital technology lawyer’s role. You will experience diverse teaching methods from leading experts in their field, and you will gain confidence in independently researching disruptive legal phenomena. You will also enhance your awareness of issues that are still un(der)regulated, or addressed only through policy discussion, and you will engage with critical policy discussions on current issues in information technology law.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the unit, a successful student will be able to:
The unit will be taught in lectures and seminars. These activities will typically take place on campus. The unit will also require directed and self-directed learning, which will include activities such as reading materials included in the unit’s reading list, watching videos, accessing web-based supplementary materials, completing online tests and performing tasks for seminar discussion. Teaching is student-centred, and you will be expected to contribute to seminar discussion and to engage in peer-to-peer learning.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):
Formative assessments will come in many forms, including discussions in the seminars, group exercises and asynchronous activities in the virtual learning environment. These should contribute to constant training of students’ thinking, argumentation, and communication skills. These form an assessment for learning and will not contribute to the final unit mark.
There will be one major formative assignment. You will produce a research memorandum of maximum 1,500 words. The memorandum will outline your research project which will be situated in one of a number of selected areas. The list of selected research areas will be distributed at the beginning of this unit and will vary year-to-year.
Your research memorandum will contain your research question, your main line of argument, and a list of your main sources. In preparation for the major formative task, you will be expected to carry out research beyond the unit reading list. General and individual feedback on the formative coursework will be provided before summative assessments are assigned.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
The summative task will take the form of a mini research project answering one of a number of set research questions. You will have to produce one piece of written coursework (4,000 words) in which you will effectively address your research question and demonstrate the attainment of all the Learning Outcomes for this unit. The students are expected to conduct research beyond the unit reading list in their coursework.
When assessment does not go to plan:
When a student fails the unit and is eligible to resubmit, the unit will be reassessed on a like-for-like basis with new assessment questions.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. LAWDM0181).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The assessment methods listed in this unit specification are designed to enable students to demonstrate the named learning outcomes (LOs). Where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, schools will make reasonable adjustments to support a student to demonstrate the LO by an alternative method or with additional resources.
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
