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 |
Learning Outcomes
2.1 Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs) for this course
CLO 1 Critically analyze the impact of AI on fundamental legal concepts and evaluate how traditional doctrines adapt to new AI systems.
CLO 2 Understand and apply legal principles governing AI in contract law, tort law, and commercial transactions, including frameworks in Hong Kong, Mainland China, the EU, and other major jurisdictions for addressing AI-related legal challenges.
CLO 3 Evaluate the implications of AI technologies for intellectual property rights, including authorship of AI-generated works, patentability of AI inventions, and ownership of training data and algorithms.
CLO 4 Examine emerging liability frameworks for AI systems, including product liability, negligence standards for algorithmic decision-making, and strict liability regimes, with reference to recent cases and legislative developments.
CLO 5 Assess how legal systems might adapt as AI systems increasingly blur traditional boundaries between human and AI.
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 | 15% | 2 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 |
| In-class presentations | 35% | 2 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 |
| Final essay | 50% | 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/