Faculty of Law Undergraduate Handbook - Faculty of Law - The ...

LAW 438 — Law & Information TechnologyCredit Points: 15 pointsOffered: First SemesterContact Hours: Lectures — 3 hours per weekCoordinator: Judge David HarveyPrerequisites: LAW 201, 211, 231, 241Course Description:The essence of this course is to study and develop an understanding of the impact of, and the way in which the lawdeals with new information technologies. A selection of areas will be covered where issues arise such as:• computer crimes• evidence• jurisdiction• intellectual property• tort, defamation, cyber-trespass and cyberproperty• e-commerce and contract• internet regulation and domain name disputes• privacy issuesThe course will include the application of information technology to the practice of law and legal research, including:• electronic research• hypertext systems• technology use in Court• Video-conferencingThese topics will be considered in the context of the Internet and computer based information systems.Content Outline:This course will be conducted in a slightly different style from other courses. It will use many of the norms of the on-lineor digital environment. It will introduce students to the informational environment and its unique properties so thatthey will understand not only the legal issues but also the technical and social issues that surround or underlie them. Itwill suggest that some of our assumptions about the applicability of the law may be challenged by the properties ofon-line or digital information.. Access to a computer and an internet connection is assumed.The course assumes a basic knowledge of core law subjects. It is helpful if students are also familiar with principles ofevidence, jurisdiction and intellectual property all of which will be examined in the context of new communicationstechnologiesAssessment:Final Examination (2hrs) 100%Prescribed Text/s:Harvey, D “internet.law.nz — Selected Issues” (2nd ed) Wellington; LexisNexis; 200346 | 2010 Faculty of Law Handbook