LLM Law and Digital Innovation

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Course Overview
Key Facts
Course Outline
Why Choose This Course?
Course Fees
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Course Overview

Webinar

Join our upcoming LLM Law and Digital Innovation Webinar on Wednesday 27th November at 4pm (Irish Standard Time). This webinar will feature a short presentation followed by the opportunity for you to get your questions answered by our programme directors.

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What is the programme about?

Several drivers of change are influencing how law itself, the practice of law, and the business of law operate. These include information and communications technology (particularly so-called ‘artificial intelligence’) globalisation, the rise of in-house lawyering, outsourcing, off-shoring, equality, inclusion and diversity issues, and environmental, social and governance challenges. The law, the courts, and the legal services industry are under greater pressure than ever before to adapt to the new possibilities that technology affords.

This programme takes all of this into account and focuses on ‘lawtech’: the uses of technology for legal practice – from basic tools like word processors and spreadsheets to sophisticated ‘artificial intelligence’ applications that some claim will replace lawyers and judges.

This LLM addresses the changes faced by the legal industry, beyond simple digitalisation or automation – converting existing paper-based processes to electronic or digital processes; to reach innovation or transformation – re-thinking these processes entirely or creating new approaches to old problems or challenges, often relying on technology. It will provide graduates with a set of future-proofed skills (including hands-on app building and data analytics), the ability to assess lawtech, understand its workings and scan the future for the changes may be in store for the legal industry.

Overview

The LLM in Law and Digital Innovation is the only Masters of its kind in the Republic of Ireland. The use of technology, software tools and artificial intelligence are transforming legal practice and creating new career opportunities. Employers are keen to hire individuals with skills in both law and technology. The LLM in Law and Digital Innovation responds to this through the provision of high quality, research-led teaching that bridges the disciplines of law, information systems, and data analytics.

This programme will be of interest to law, business or STEM graduates who are seeking to develop a career in lawtech, and legal practitioners who are seeking to upskill or change careers. Its approach is inherently international: the same winds of change blow through legal services markets worldwide, and the law that will be learned is almost entirely from the European Union (and thus globally relevant due to the ‘Brussels effect’).

This programme will prepare graduates to work in a rapidly-changing context, as legal practitioners, researchers, or technology innovators, by providing them with a deep understanding of the relevant law, the potential (and pitfalls) of technology as a tool for legal services and access to justice, and the realities of innovation in both the private and public sector.

It will provide graduates with:

a comprehensive and critical understanding of issues at the forefront of technology law and practice by adopting legal, sociological and design thinking approaches to study and research.
a diverse range of cross-disciplinary and research-led modules that focus on topics at the intersection of law, technology, and access to justice delivered by leading experts.
confidence to express complex ideas (orally and in writing) and to undertake independent study using multi-disciplinary sources and scholarship.

Course Highlights:

A diverse range of cross-disciplinary and research-led modules that focus on topics at the intersection of law, information systems and data analytics, delivered by leading experts.
Guest lectures from those involved in creating, applying or experiencing the use of technology in legal practice and in the courts.
Field trips to important sites of practice, such as the Courts Service.
The Technology and Rights Research Cluster which has links with (inter)governmental, judicial and civil society organisations will enable students to attend a range of events hosted by this cluster.
Applied Design Thinking Project, address a real-life problem under the supervision of a specific supervisor. This project will take place across Semester I and II, as part of the module Design Thinking for Lawyers I and II. Students will be presented with a highly complex legal issue presented by real life stakeholders, and will have agency to choose what aspect they wish to address. Over the course of two semesters they will define personas, and develop solutions for those personas, ultimately developing a solution which they will prototype, test and iterate. Additionally students will consider the audience and marketing of this solution.
A Minor Thesis is completed by students on a topic of their choice under close supervision by leading experts.
Focus on skills and employability including legal research and writing, data analytics, and app development.
Career Support is provided through professional workshops concentrating on students CV and interview skills. ‘Careers in Law Week’ also provides an opportunity to meet potential employers.

Applications and Selections

Who Teaches this Course

The following staff at University of Galway are involved in teaching the LLM Digital and Innovation programme:

Dr Rónán Kennedy
Dr Abigail Rekas
Mr Larry Donnelly
Dr Anatoli Nachev
Dr Anastasia Griva
Prof Kieran Conboy
Dr Michael Lang
Dr David Kreps
Dr Mahya Ostovar

Requirements and Assessment

Taught modules will be assessed by either an exam or a written essay (depending on the preference of the module convenor). Students will be given options to receive feedback on formative assessments and presentations in a number of modules. Students will be assessed on their ability to conduct independent research on a specific self-selected topic during their Minor Thesis assessment.

Key Facts

Entry Requirements

An approved Second Class Honours Degree, Grade 1 (2.1, Level 8) in law or in another relevant discipline such as business, computer science, or statistics.
In exceptional circumstances, an applicant holding a degree in another discipline or a degree of less than an approved Second Class Honours Degree, Grade 1 (H2.1) standard may be considered where they have relevant professional experience in law and computer science.
International students should refer to the country-specific information section of the International Office website

Additional Requirements

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

In exceptional circumstances, an applicant holding a degree in another discipline or a degree of less than an approved Second-Class Honours Degree, Grade 1 (H2.1) standard may be considered where they have relevant professional experience in law or in another relevant subject area such as criminology.

Duration

1 year full-time or 2 years part-time

Next start date

September 2025

A Level Grades ()

Average intake

QQI/FET FETAC Entry Routes

Closing Date

Offers are made on a rolling basis.

NFQ level

NFQ Level 9

Mode of study

ECTS weighting

Award

Postgraduate Master of Law

CAO

Course code

Course Outline

The programme can be completed in one year full-time or two years part-time. The 90-credit programme consists of:

Compulsory modules 40 credits + Optional modules 20 credits + Minor Thesis 30 credits

Compulsory Modules (40 credits)

Advanced Legal Research & Method (10 credits)
The Future of Law (5 credits)
Design Thinking for Lawyers I (5 credits)
Design Thinking for Lawyers II (5 credits)
Computation and Law (10 credits)
Digital Transformation and Access to Justice (5 credits)

Optional Modules (Choose 20 credits)

Students have the option to choose from the below list of Business Information Systems modules and/or from modules offered on the LLM programmes at the School of Law, Irish Centre of Human Rights and Centre for Disability Law and Policy.

Business Information Systems Modules

Business Modelling and Analytics (5 credits)
Decision Theory, AI and Analytics (5 credits)
Systems Development & Project Management (5 credits)
Philosophy of Information and Information Ethics (5 credits)
Storytelling through Data Visualisation (5 credits)
Data Science and Big Data Analytics (5 credits)

LLM Programme Modules

Below is the list of modules being offered during the academic year 2024/2025 on the LLM programmes offered by the School of Law, Irish Centre of Human Rights and Centre for Disability Law and Policy.

EU Competition Law (10 credits)
Law of International Business Transactions (10 credits)
Legal Skills: Commercial Practice, Advocacy and Dispute Resolution (10 credits)
Advanced Intellectual Property Law and Development (10 credits)
Law and Economics of Corporate Transactions (10 credits)
Vis Moot (20 credits)
International Human Rights Law (10 credits)
Public International Law (10 credits)
International Criminal Law (10 credits)
International Humanitarian Law (10 credits)
Contemporary Issues in International Migration Law (10 credits)
European Migration Law (5 credits)
Peace Support Operations (10 credits)
European Convention on Human Rights: Law and Politics (10 credits)
Gender and Human Rights (10 credits)
International Humanitarian Law (10 credits)
Business and Human Rights 2 (10 credits)
International Refugee Law (10 credits)
Climate Justice (5 credits)
The Common European Asylum System (5 credits)
Transitional Justice (5 credits)
Procedure before International Criminal Courts (5 credits)
Counter Terrorism and Human Rights (5 credits)
Critical Race Theory and Human Rights (5 credits)
Transnational Lawyering (5 credits)
International Child Rights (5 credits)
Foundational Theoretical Framework in Disability Law and Policy (10 credits)
Legal Capacity Law and Policy (10 credits)
Advocacy and Access to Justice (10 credits)
Inclusive Education Law and Policy (10 credits)
Mental Health Law and Policy (10 credits)
Policing, Security and Rights (10 credits)
Minors, Minority Groups & the Criminal Justice System (10 credits)
Sentencing and Penal Law Policy (10 credits)
Imprisonment and Rights (10 credits)

Why Choose This Course?

Career Opportunities

AI might not replace lawyers, but lawyers with skills in technology and analytics will have an advantage in the job market, particularly noted by Wolters Kluwer in 2023, is a need to understand and apply Generative AI. Graduates might work as lawyers in traditional legal advice roles, particularly focusing on technology law, or in other roles such as Legal Technologist, Legal Process Analyst, Legal Knowledge Engineer, Legal Hybrid, Legal Project Manager, Online Dispute Resolution Practitioner, Legal Risk Manager, Legal Prompt Engineer and Legal Management Consultant. The more enterprising might become lawtech entrepreneurs.

For those who are interested in working directly on lawtech, according to a Robert Walters report on the lawtech job market, vacancies in this field have grown by 87% between 2019 to 2020, and 177% between 2020 and 2021. By 2021, lawtech jobs were 2.7% of all tech vacancies in the UK. For more traditional roles, according to a Wolters Kluwer report the increasing importance of legal technology was one of the key trends that will impact on legal professionals from 2023-26, while a lack of technology skills is an issue for 49% of the firms surveyed yet legal departments that are technology leaders routinely outperform those who are not. 75% of firms and legal departments reported they are prepared and expect to invest in technologies in 2023.

Potential employers who hire experts within these fields include traditional legal firms, accountancy and consultancy firms, and lawtech firms. Career paths are also possible with the civil and public service (particularly the courts), as an barrister, or as an in-house lawyer in a commercial organisation (particularly multi-national businesses). Students who have completed the specialised modules led by recognised experts, completed tailored methods and dissemination training and engaged in independent research in timely topics will be highly appealing to a wide-range of employers.

Who’s Suited to This Course

Learning Outcomes

Transferable Skills Employers Value

On successful completion of this programme, students will be able to:

undertake independent research and access a range of legal and sociological sources effectively
analyse complex texts and evaluate different types of arguments
construct and present complex technological and rights- informed ideas in writing
solve problems based on premises drawn from a variety sources
apply computational methods to solve legal problems or to answer legal research questions
Apply design thinking methods to solve problems
communicate arguments in writing or orally and reference sources

Work Placement

Study Abroad

Related Student Organisations

Course Fees

Fees: EU

€8,640 full-time; €4,355 part-time (including levy) p.a. 2025/26

Fees: Tuition

€8,500 full-time; €4,250 part-time p.a. 2025/26

Fees: Student levy

€140 full-time; €105 part-time p.a. 2025/26

Fees: Non EU

€20,000 p.a. (€20,140 p.a. including levy) 2025/26

For 25/26 entrants, where the course duration is greater than 1 year, there is an inflationary increase approved of 3.4% per annum for continuing years fees.

Postgraduate students in receipt of a SUSI grant – please note an F4 grant is where SUSI will pay €4,000 towards your tuition (2025/26). You will be liable for the remainder of the total fee. A P1 grant is where SUSI will pay tuition up to a maximum of €6,270. SUSI will not cover the student levy of €140.