Fundamentals of Law and Technology (5 cr)

Evaluation scale

H-5

Objective

The primary objective of the module is to help the student understand and discuss the fundamental aspects of the relationship between law and technology.

The secondary objective is to facilitate learning in the specific courses belonging to the Law and Technology Program.

Execution methods

Completing the unit:
1. There is no need to contact the teacher in order to complete the unit.
2. Please enroll in the implementation of the appropriate semester (if return the essay in fall, use the fall implementation) AND self-register to the Moodle workspace OTMEVAL0054.
3. Please find the essay and workbook instructions in the Moodle workspace.
4. Turn in your essay and workbook to the assignment folder. Your essay will automatically be subject to plagiarism check using TurnitIn.
5. Please allow 3 weeks for review and 1 week for registration of credits. Pleae note that credits are NOT registered in the month of July or in early August. Therefore, exchange students are required to turn in the essay, at the latest, before the end of May.

Accomplishment methods

The unit is available year-round as a Moodle online course.
The unit is only available in the given amount of credits: flexible credits are not offered.
The unit may be RPL'd (Recognition of Prior Learning, AHOT in Finnish) pursuant to the University of Lapland's regular RPL procedure. RPL may be sought using technology law studies from other universities.

Content

The module encompasses the following topics:

- the concepts of regulation, law, and legislation
- the concepts of rules, standards, and principles
- the concept of technology: social construction and change (sociotechnical change)
- the distinctiveness and interdependency (co-dependency) of law and technology: technological and legal determinism, instrumentalism, and normativity
- regulation/governance of technologies (regulatory theory): typical legal issues created by technology and possible legal and other approaches to the issues, and
- the role of values in law and technology.

The topics are discussed from a general and critical perspective that is not bound to any single field of law nor the particularities of legal doctrine. Examples are provided from a wide range of phenomena, such as transportation, weapons, information and communications technology (ICT), and biotechnology. Technology is thus viewed as something not limited to ICT. This broad perspective also allows the students to discuss a wide range of topics in their essay.

The module is listed as an LLM level course, but it is also recommended for students at the LLB level who are interested in law and technology.

Materials

The learning material consists of prerecorded lectures, the workbook made by students themselves, and literature. The students are themselves responsible for finding the sources they wish to use. Some essential sources are listed below, and supplementary sources may be found in databases like LUC Finna, HeinOnline and Westlaw, and by using search engines.

Teaching methods

The course can be completed independently on Moodle. Please see workspace Fundamentals of Law and Technology for instructions.

Qualifications

None. Studying the Introduction to Legal Informatics and other modules belonging to the Law and Tech package supports the learning objectives of the course.