LAWCOMM 733 : Special Topic: Shaping the Law in the Tech Driven Era

Law

2025 Semester One (1253) (30 POINTS)

Course Prescription

No prescription

Course Overview

Focus & Scope:
This course provides a deep dive into the intersection of law and disruptive technologies, emphasising the legal, ethical, and societal challenges posed by innovations like artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, quantum computing, and beyond. The aim is to equip students with a foundational understanding of these technologies, not just their applications, but the principles behind how they are built, and how computational thinking shapes their design and function. By understanding computational thinking, students can also reflect on the similarities and differences with legal thinking and improve their understanding of their own analytical thinking. By doing so, students will be better prepared to critically analyse how these innovations intersect with existing legal frameworks and propose appropriate legal, ethical, and regulatory responses.

Key focus areas include:
  • Computational Thinking & Core Technological Concepts – Students begin by learning the fundamentals of computational logic, data structures, algorithms, and the architecture behind disruptive technologies. This knowledge is crucial for grasping how technologies operate at a deeper level.
  • Case Studies & Legal Frameworks – The course utilises comparative legal methods and explores national and international legal cases and frameworks, demonstrating how legal systems attempt to regulate or respond to disruptive innovations, often in a reactive rather than proactive manner. Students will critically assess the effectiveness of current approaches and explore gaps in governance.
  • Technological Impact on Society – By examining how technologies reshape industries, economies, and societal norms, students will explore questions of justice, equality, privacy, and innovation, considering the legal responsibilities to protect individual rights while promoting responsible technological advancement. What is important, in the course, we will also consider those companies that are leading the development of these technologies, their control and potential power vis-a-vis us (the users).
  • Regulatory & Ethical Challenges – The course concludes by discussing whether and how these technologies should be regulated. Students will debate emerging legal frameworks and propose solutions that balance innovation, societal good, and individual freedoms.
Design of the Course:
The course's design is interdisciplinary and highly interactive. Throughout the course, students will be expected to participate in discussions, prepare presentations, submit written assessments, and work collaboratively on projects. The course will be a blend of theoretical discussions, practical technology sessions, case study analyses, and interactive problem-solving workshops. Students will also interact with guest lecturers from both the tech and legal industries.

This structure ensures that students not only grasp the technological underpinnings but also acquire the skills needed to bridge the gap between law and technology, ultimately preparing them to shape legal responses to a rapidly evolving tech landscape.

Course Requirements

No pre-requisites or restrictions

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: People and Place
Capability 3: Knowledge and Practice
Capability 4: Critical Thinking
Capability 5: Solution Seeking
Capability 6: Communication
Capability 7: Collaboration
Capability 8: Ethics and Professionalism
Graduate Profile: Master of Laws

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of technology, its applications in every-day life and its effects on humans and society. (Capability 1.2 and 4.1)
  2. Analyse the technical components and operational mechanisms of disruptive technologies like AI, blockchain or quantum computing. (Capability 3.1)
  3. Explain and critically evaluate the ethical dimensions of regulating technologies like AI, facial recognition, blockchain or quantum computing. (Capability 4.1)
  4. Critically reflect on the evolving nature of law in response to technological innovation. (Capability 4.1)
  5. Interact and collaborate effectively in teams to integrate various perspectives in the development of regulatory solutions. (Capability 5.1 and 7.1)
  6. Explain and apply existing national and international regulatory frameworks to new technologies. (Capability 3.1)
  7. Critically evaluate the societal and legal impacts of disruptive technologies. (Capability 4.1)
  8. Propose solutions to regulatory challenges posed by technological advancements. (Capability 5.1 and 8.1)
  9. Effectively communicate complex technological and legal concepts clearly and effectively in both written and oral formats. (Capability 6.1)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Discussions 10% Individual Coursework
Presentation 30% Group Coursework
Research essay 30% Individual Coursework
Assignment 30% Individual Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Discussions
Presentation
Research essay
Assignment

Workload Expectations

This is a standard 30-point post-graduate course. There will be around 36 hours of lectures in this course.  The guideline for the total workload for this course is 300 hours.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is expected at scheduled activities including tutorials to complete components of the course.
The course will not include live online events.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

The reading list for this course offers a diverse range of resources, designed to expose students to both academic and real-world perspectives on the intersection of law and technology. Students will engage with a mix of scholarly articles, book chapters, blogs, news articles, podcasts, and videos to enhance their understanding of how law responds to technological innovation.

  • Academic Articles: these will include foundational texts on AI, blockchain, and quantum computing's impact on legal systems, offering students a theoretical background for understanding legal complexities.
  • Book Chapters: from books on law and technology, innovation policy, and legal governance will give students comprehensive insights into both historical and contemporary issues in regulating disruptive technologies.
  • Blogs & News Articles: on current events and developments in tech law. These will include accessible commentaries and up-to-date reports on technological advancements.
  • Podcasts: insights and Interviews with experts in law, technology, and regulation. These audio resources will offer students a chance to hear directly from practitioners discussing practical challenges.
  • Videos: offering visual explanations of core technologies and their legal implications.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

  1. Kickoff Session: Shaping the Course Together ->At the beginning of the course, we will gather ideas and suggestions from students about the topics they want to explore, setting the stage for at least one student-designed class.
  2. Mid-Course Alignment: Revisiting Expectations ->Approximately one month in, with students we will revisit the course expectations and check in to ensure they are on track and achieving their learning goals. This session will help realign the course to meet everyone’s needs.
  3. Final Evaluation in Class: Honest and vulnerable discussions at the end of the course will improve the course for the next group of students.
  4. SET

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework, tests and examinations as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against electronic source material using computerised detection mechanisms. Upon reasonable request, students may be required to provide an electronic version of their work for computerised review.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course director, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a Student Academic and Support Adviser as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the University Website for information about how to proceed.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.

Published on 07/11/2024 05:21 p.m.