Introduction to Digitalization and Legal Tech, 7.5 credits

Learning outcomes

Knowledge and understanding

At the completion of the course the students should be able to:

• describe the logical structure of the legal rules, especially in relation to legal applications used in legal profession,
• describe the basics of propositional logic,
• describe basic programming technique, and
• describe how technology can be used for legal applications.

Skills and abilities

At the completion of the course the students should be able to:

• create a decision tree from legal rules.

Judgement and approach

At the completion of the course the students should be able to:

• understand the interaction between digitalisation and law on a basic level, and
• reflect on the importance of digitalisation for society and law.

Content

The course aims to provide the student with the tools to understand how law can become legal tech and digital solutions for public authorities, courts, companies and other organizations. During the course, the student will learn how the basic structure of computer programs, the internet and algorithms are built up and work. The studies include basic concepts of computational logic thinking and how programming language is built up, as well as the technical possibilities and limitations on legal applications.

The course also introduces the student to how legal rules can be converted into decision trees. The student is trained to create a decision tree based on legal analysis and propositional logic thinking in the context of contractual law issues. This also includes deepening knowledge within specific relevant areas of law such as contract law.

The course includes discussions on the importance of digitalisation for lawyers. Furthermore, the course also gives basic necessary knowledge for further studies in the area of legal tech and law.

Examinations and grades

Oral and Written Communication, 1 credits (Code: A007)
Grades used are Fail (U) or Pass (G).

Legal Analysis, 2 credits (Code: A008)
Grades used are Fail (F), Sufficient (E), Satisfactory (D), Good (C), Very Good (B) or Excellent (A).

Digitalization and Legal Tech, 4.5 credits (Code: A009)
Grades used are Fail (F), Sufficient (E), Satisfactory (D), Good (C), Very Good (B) or Excellent (A).

According to the Higher Education Ordinance, Chapter 6, Section 18, a grade is to be awarded on the completion of a course, unless otherwise prescribed by the university. The university may determine which grading system is to be used. The grade must be determined by a teacher specifically nominated by the university (the examiner).

In accordance with university regulations on grading systems for first and second-cycle courses and study programmes (Vice-Chancellor’s decision ORU 2018/00929), one of the following grades is to be used: fail (U), pass (G) or pass with distinction (VG). For courses included in an international master’s programme (60 or 120 credits) or offered to the university’s incoming exchange students, the A to F grading scale is to be used. The vice-chancellor, or a person appointed by them, may decide on exceptions from this provision for a specific course, if there are special grounds for doing so.

The grades used on this course are Fail (F), Sufficient (E), Satisfactory (D), Good (C), Very Good (B) or Excellent (A).

Comments on grades

In order to obtain a passing final course grade on the entire course, the grade Pass (G) on the examination Oral and Written Communication (A007), and at least the grade Sufficient (E) on the examinations Legal Analysis (A008) and Digitalization and Legal Tech (A009) are required. The final course grade on the entire course shall be a weighted average of the grades on the examinations Legal Analysis (A008) and Digitalization and Legal Tech (A009). The grades of the examination forms given to U - G grading scale is not included in the weighing of the final course grade.

Modes of assessment

Oral and Written Communication, 1 credits (Code: A007)
Continuous examination.
If a student does not achieve an approved grade, but with a limited effort is deemed to be able to reach it, the student may complete in accordance with the examiner’s instructions. The completion shall be made within five (5) working days from the time the student is assigned the instructions. Oral examinations consisting of group assignments where the student does not attend or fails, may be re-examined if the circumstances allow it. If not, the student is referred to the next time the course is given.

Legal Analysis, 2 credits (Code: A008)
Written assignment.
If a student does not achieve an approved grade on the written assignment, but with a limited effort is deemed to be able to reach it, the student may complete the written assignment in accordance with the examiner’s instructions. The supplement shall be completed within five (5) working days from the time the student is assigned the instructions.

Digitalization and Legal Tech, 4.5 credits (Code: A009)
Written exam.

For students with a documented disability, the university may approve applications for adapted or other modes of assessment.

For further information, see the university's local examination regulations.

Specific entry requirements

Basic Course in Law, 30 ECTS credits or 6 credit points from Rättsvetenskaplig introduktionskurs (for programme students only).

For further information, see the university's admission regulations.

Other provisions

The course is taught in English.

Students who have been admitted to and registered on a course have the right to receive tuition and/or supervision for the duration of the time period specified for the particular course to which they were accepted (see, the university's admission regulations (in Swedish)). After that, the right to receive tuition and/or supervision expires.

Reading list and other learning resources

Required Reading

Bennet, Christian, Haglund, Björn, Westerståhl
Logik - en introduktion

Dale, Robert
Law and Word Order: NLP in Legal Tech
Natural Language Engineering, 25(1) (2019), pp 211-217

Kaun, Anne
Suing the Algorithm: The Mundanization of Automated Decision-making in Public Services Through Litigation
Information, Communication & Society (2021), pp 1-17

Kronblad, Charlotta
Digital Innovation in Law Dirms: The Dominant Logic Under Threat
Creativity and Innovation Management, 29(3) (2020), pp 512-527

Additional reading

Perry, Susan; Roda, Claudia
Human Rights and Digital Technology: Digital Tightrope
Palgrave Macmillan London, app. 203 pages

Susskind, Richard
Tomorrow’s Lawyers
Oxford University Press, app. 240 pages

Wahlgren, Peter
‘Automatiserade juridiska beslut’ i Nääv, Maria och Mauro Zamboni, Juridisk metodlära Lund: Studentlitteratur, Second Edition, 2018, pp 401-427

Additions and Comments on the Reading List

Always the latest edition of the books on the reading list are used.

Some literature can be found online and as E-book.

Additional materials, such as articles and case law (of approximately 300 pages) are also part of the required reading.