General Course Information
1.1 Course details
| Course code: | LLAW3294 |
| Course name: | AI and Private Law |
| Programme offered under: | LLB Programme |
| Semester: | Second |
| Designated research course: | Not applicable |
| Specialization: | Not applicable |
| Prerequisites / Co-requisites: | No |
| Course offered to non-law students: | No |
| Credit point value: | 6 credits |
1.2 Course description
This course explores the legal implications of emerging AI technologies within the private law landscape. We will examine how AI capabilities in autonomy, machine learning, and big data analytics challenge existing legal doctrines and rights protections. Students will assess AI impact across core domains of private law including contracts, torts, intellectual property, corporate law, and consumer protection. By evaluating AI’s alignment with these principles, we can work to shape policies that foster AI innovation responsibly. Additionally, students will develop the skills needed to be effective modern-day lawyers, understanding how AI transforms legal practice and preparing them to navigate its impact on their future careers.
1.3 Course teachers
| Name | E-mail address | Office | Consultation | |
| Course convenor | Adam Au | adamikau@hku.hk | N/A | By email |
1.4 Course Outline (for elective course)
| Please click the link here for the course outline (HKU Portal login required). |
Learning Outcomes
2.1 Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs) for this course
CLO 1 Describe and explain key principles, doctrines, and frameworks in private law and how they relate to emerging AI systems.
CLO 2 Use knowledge of AI technologies and their societal impacts to critically examine limitations, biases, and risks of current laws and regulations.
CLO 3 Apply legal analysis and reasoning skills to evaluate AI systems across domains like contracts, IP, and torts; identify alignment issues.
CLO 4 Demonstrate strategic thinking in recommending policies and safeguards to balance AI innovation with legal ethics and principles.
CLO 5 Show an awareness of the broader economic, social, and ethical impacts of AI and how the legal field should responsibly oversee those impacts.
2.2 LLB Programme Learning Outcomes (PLOs)
Please refer to the following link: https://course.law.hku.hk/llb-plo/
2.3 Programme Learning Outcomes to be achieved in this course
| PLO A | PLO B | PLO C | PLO D | PLO E | PLO F | |
| CLO 1 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| CLO 2 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| CLO 3 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| CLO 4 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| CLO 5 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Assessment(s)
3.1 Assessment Summary
| Assessment task | Weighting | Feedback method* | Course learning outcomes |
| Class participation | 20% | 2 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 |
| Presentation | 20% | 2 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 |
| Essay #1 | 30% | 2 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 |
| Essay #2 | 30% | 2 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 |
| *Feedback method (to be determined by course teacher) | |
| 1 | A general course report to be disseminated through Moodle |
| 2 | Individual feedback to be disseminated by email / through Moodle |
| 3 | Individual review meeting upon appointment |
| 4 | Group review meeting |
| 5 | In-class verbal feedback |
3.2 Assessment Detail
To be advised by course convenor(s). See also Course Outline above.
3.3 Grading Criteria
Please refer to the following link: https://www.law.hku.hk/_files/law_programme_grade_descriptors.pdf
Learning Activities
4.1 Learning Activity Plan
| Seminar: | 3 hours / week for 12 teaching weeks |
| Private study time: | 9.5 hours / week for 12 teaching weeks |
Remarks: the normative student study load per credit unit is 25 ± 5 hours (ie. 150 ± 30 hours for a 6-credit course), which includes all learning activities and experiences within and outside of classroom, and any assessment task and examinations and associated preparations.
4.2 Details of Learning Activities
To be advised by course convenor(s).
Learning Resources
5.1 Resources
| Reading materials: | Reading materials are posted on Moodle |
| Core reading list: | TBA |
| Recommended reading list: | TBA |
5.2 Links
Please refer to the following link: http://www.law.hku.hk/course/learning-resources/