General Course Information
1.1 Course details
| Course code: | LLAW6325 / JDOC6325 |
| Course name: | Technology, Ethics and Legal Practice |
| Programme offered under: | LLM Programme / JD Programme |
| Semester: | Second |
| Prerequisites / Co-requisites: | No |
| Credit point value: | 9 credits / 6 credits |
1.2 Course description
Ever since Covid in 2020, there has been a greater reliance on technology by businesses and consumers alike, affecting many aspects of everyday life. This also propelled the adoption of digital transformation embracing automation, ‘internet of things’ (IOT), cloud tech, block-chain, and AI at a much faster pace. At the same time, such disruption spore new risks; for example, AI has been labelled as an existential threat and there has been increased cyber-attacks creating more anxiety. Legal service is no different. The discourse about changing how lawyers work, undertake legal research, and advising their clients using legal technology have been on the rise. The course shall endeavour capture the key debates of digital transformation affecting business models of businesses and professional services including legal services. And with the adoption of new technology comes new ethical questions as well as dilemmas for businesses and professionals including lawyers. Whilst the regulatory debates are on-going, unknown impact on society like massive job losses also have ethical implications. As such this course shall contemplate the impact of digital disruption and new ethical predicaments that shall be thrusted onto legal professionals; thereby preparing students for the challenges in the cyber age that lies ahead.
1.3 Course teachers
| Name | E-mail address | Office | Consultation | |
| Course convenor | Angus Young | alyoung@hku.hk | N/A | By email |
Learning Outcomes
2.1 Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs) for this course
CLO 1 Describe and explain the key principles of digital transformation like AI, cloud tech, block chain and digital platform and its impacts on businesses including new business models.
CLO 2 Describe and explain the adoption of new technologies like legal technology will revolutionize legal practice and services offered to clients.
CLO 3 Critically analyse the ethical principles and issues arising from new and existing technology.
CLO 4 Evaluate the ethical considerations and dilemmas arising from the use of AI, blockchain, IOT, Cloud tech, digital platforms, and other new technologies in businesses and legal practice.
CLO 5 Expand critical thinking and autonomous learning skills, to enable students to gain knowledge in an area of considerable interests which will enhance employability potential in law firms, the corporate sector, regulators and public authorities.
2.2 LLM and JD Programme Learning Outcomes (PLOs)
Please refer to the following link:
LLM – https://course.law.hku.hk/llm-plo/
JD – https://course.law.hku.hk/jd-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 | Due date | Weighting | Feedback method* | Course learning outcomes |
| Class participation | N/A | 20% | 3 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 |
| Research essay | TBC | 30% | 3, 5 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 |
| Take home exam^ | TBC | 50% | 3, 5 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 |
^ Students are required to pass the exam to be eligible to pass the course.
| *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).
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/