LLM in Law and Technology in Europe
Utrecht University
Key Information
Campus location
Utrecht, Netherlands
Languages
English
Study format
On-Campus
Duration
1 year
Pace
Full time
Tuition fees
EUR 2,168 / per year *
Application deadline
Request info
Earliest start date
Request info
* EU/EEA, Surinam or Swiss students; €17,500: International students
Scholarships
Explore scholarship opportunities to help fund your studies
Introduction
Is Europe Ready for the New Challenges Posed by Digital Technologies?
Technology today is everywhere around us, making our lives easier in countless ways. In the digital economy, a new pair of shoes is just a tap of a finger away. You can organize a car or train journey by asking Alexa or Siri, and taking your favorite music or TV series along for the ride. Meanwhile, governments around the world are making use of the sensors, actuators, and other opportunities offered by smart technologies to streamline city life and respond swiftly and effectively to societal challenges.
Yet, at the same time, these inventions, and how society applies them, present new challenges. What if the algorithms supporting today’s digital platforms and the government discriminate against certain individuals? What if a self-driving car causes an accident? And, as companies and governments harvest more and more of our personal data, how can we trust that our privacy is fully protected? What are the risks of using digital technologies for the rule of law and values such as accountability, transparency, checks and balances, access to justice, procedural fairness, and fundamental rights? And are our laws up to date, or do we need new ones?
Just How Future-Proof Are Europe’s Laws?
Are you interested in privacy, cybersecurity, blockchain, artificial intelligence, automated government decision-making, and platform economies, as well as the potential ramifications of these developments for our society and its underlying values and the rule of law? Do you, as a legal expert, want to make a significant contribution to the fields of both law and technology? If so, then we invite you to learn more about the LLM in Law and Technology in Europe at Utrecht University.
This thought-provoking Master’s dives deep into the fascinating digital and societal developments that are raising new questions at the intersection of law, regulation, and technology. As a student on the program, you will examine the role played by the EU as it looks to regulate and police these technologies, and whether Europe’s laws are ‘future-proof’ enough to withstand continuing technological innovation and change.
Program Outcome
During this program, you’ll study the societal challenges of new digital technologies and the possibilities and pitfalls of a regulatory or legal response.
Over the year, you will:
- Understand why and how new technologies are regulated and grasp the complexities of technology regulation and case law in a field of continued innovation.
- Understand the intricacies of the relationship between the European Union and its Member States in the field of digital technology.
- Be offered the analytical tools to understand the workings of new technologies through crash courses, in order to identify the social and economic effects that these technological developments may have, and what that means for the regulation of these technologies.
- Improve your academic research, writing, and presentation skills, and learn how using digital technologies can be useful for your own research projects.
Curriculum
During the Master's in Law and Technology in Europe, you will:
- Study the evolving relationship between law and technology, while crossing the boundaries of ‘classical’ subsystems of law.
- Explore how digital advancements impact different actors within society and study the possibilities and pitfalls of potential legal responses.
- Examine the multilevel legal order of the EU and its growing role in shaping the regulatory response to technological developments
- Anticipate future developments in technology and digital innovation, and potential EU responses.
This one-year Master’s program starts in September. The academic year consists of:
- A compulsory part worth 45 EC that comprises four compulsory major courses (7.5 EC each) and Capita Selecta (15 EC).
- A Research and Thesis Trajectory (15 EC).
Career Opportunities
This Master’s opens the door to a successful career in government or with a regulatory agency. Equally, you may choose to pursue a role in legal practice or the corporate sector, or a position in academia. These positions could be at the national, European, or international level.
Possible Careers
Digital technologies are ubiquitous and play a role in all domains of the law. There is a growing need for lawyers with firm knowledge and understanding of the workings of these tools and their impact on the law. Professionals with a Master’s in Law and Technology will become the policy- and lawmakers of the future, as well as tomorrow’s legal practitioners.
After finishing your studies, you can work as a:
- Lawyer, judge, consultant, or police officer in a national or international government organization, in business, or in a regulatory agency.
- Teacher or researcher/Ph.D. in any of the fields of law related to law and technology.