I'm glad I've bumped into this forum, since everyone here seems very kind and helpful.

I've worked in the Information Technology field for nearly a decade (in the U.S.), and I've become rather interested in policy and law as they pertain to IT. This is because I have been put in the position of (1) defending our program from "experts" in the law (read: non-lawyers) who attempt to coerce the direction of our software development to their liking through their interpretation of law and regulation; and (2) ensuring that our software meets standards set out by law and regulation.

I have no desire to become a lawyer; however, I do harbor a desire to be at least more informed. Natually, an LLM in the States is out of the question. So, I'm considering an LLM in the UK via distance education. So, here are my questions:

(1) Is it reasonable that I pursue an LLM via distance education? I've looked at the programs at Edinburgh, Strathclyde and UCL, and they all say (though somewhat quietly) that they will admit candidates who do are not degreed in law.

(2) Are any among this community currently pursuing or have pursued an LLM having a primary background in IT? Have you fared well?

(3) In your opinion, which of the three program(mes) that I've mentioned would be most beneficial to me? Are there others that I might consider?

I look forward to your thoughts!

Hi Calbee, welcome to the boards of the LLM-Guide.com. I've been hanging around here for quite a while now, but I always state my interest clearly for newcomers when answering questions of a similar calibre to your own - I work at The University of Edinburgh on the LL.M Innovation, Technology and the Law (distance learning)! So whilst I'll try to answer your question without over emphasis on Edinburgh, my terms of reference are limited, having neither studied or worked with Strathclyde or UoL, so Ill leave it to others to comment on those, as well as to post about Edinburgh!

So. To your questions

When your career reaches a certain level, operating without an acute awareness of law becomes increasingly difficult. This is by no means exclusive to IT, but as your responsibilities increase, you are required to make decisions on behalf of ever increasing numbers of people, be it your co-workers, employees or public audiences, through general management decisions, creation and implementation of strategic planning, board room decisions and so on. Reliance on the law, and lawyers, increases too, but with the understanding (and letters) you seek, you would hopefully gain gravitas and be increasingly looked to for informed decisions regarding your software development.

Even on a day-to-day basis, you (or at least others considering a similar move to an LLM in IT) may be thinking on issues relating to copyright issues surrounding expansion in new markets, issues surrounding software patents, open source licenses, privacy issues, forensic investigation, data protection, electronic contract law.. .there are many potential areas for a relevant LL.M to equip you with the understanding and skills to get ahead and open new doors.

An element of competitive advantage could be witnessed immediately for your employer as you put in to practice what youre researching and learning week-to-week. Longer term you will gain an appreciation of potential opportunity and threats that arise through legislative change, which can only be advantageous to your employer.

Asides from the prestige gained quickly in your own career with the knowledge and skills provided on an LL.M such as the three you have highlighted, you will put yourself in a very attractive position for any potential future employer to consider certainly there are more people working in IT without an Master of Laws than with the postgraduate award.

Is it reasonable that you pursue an LLM via distance learning? YES, absolutely! You need to meet each of the institutions individual entrance requirements. In Edinburgh, thats a very good, or excellent pass at undergraduate level as a minimum, and also good references from an academic and/or professional source. Equivalency isnt always apparent from a GPA, and it can also depend on which institution you completed your education, but if you want to discuss this particularly issue in more detail from an Edinburgh perspective, drop an email to me at llm-distance@ed.ac.uk.

At Edinburgh, we have recognised that non-law graduates have much to gain from and offer to an online learning postgraduate community, though they typically have a steeper learning curve, taking in to account what may be the first time theyve come across certain legal fundamentals. Our LL.M Innovation, Technology and the Law covers much of this with an introductory module which should bring you up-to-speed.

Another issue that may arise with non-law graduates is in understanding the modes of assessment, which can be quite different from other disciplines. Again, we offer support here, leaving you with clear expectations for postgraduate legal assessment.

Something that I know we (UoE) share with our UK counterparts is our focus on the international nature of the subjects we teach. Even though were operating in British jurisdictions, you would be not be taught solely in Scots Law or confined to researching the legal systems England and Wales. The areas of law covered on the programmes cannot be isolated from the international stage. On our programme, students are encouraged to bring in relevance to their own areas of operation in debates, discussions and assessment.

For your second question, I know that we have students currently working full-time in the IT sector, and from my discussions with them, they seem to be doing quite well(!), but better they tell you about that.

Question 3! I can only give some general advice. Consider your own personal goals, where you want to be in five years, one year, or next week?! Is there an apparent choice to get you there? In more detail, what course offering most interests you? Which one looks most exciting? If you want quantitative measurement, what about the various leagues, RAE scores, staffing levels offered on each programme (both academic and administrative), and so on.

If youd like more detail on the LL.M Innovation, Technology and the Law (distance learning), please contact me.

I hope that this information is helpful, and hope too that others will join in this discussion to help you in your decision making.

Colin
Distance Learning
School of Law
The University of Edinburgh
www.law.ed.ac.uk/distancelearning/

Colin, thank you so much for your thorough (and encouraging) reply. As it happens, I discussed studying for the LL.M. with my employer, and they were enthusiastic about the idea. I will contact you via email at Edinburgh after the holidays, since I have a few more questions that pertain specifically to the program at your university.

A key question you asked was, where do I want to be with respect to my career in, say, five years. One thing I have discovered about the IT field is that there's no shortage of IT professionals who know only technology and who could care less about ancillary issues. Conversely, there is a dearth of such people who can act as a liaison, so to speak, between those in IT and those who work with customers, marketing groups, or a legal department. I hope to become equipped to the point where I can stand in the gap effectively.

I am grateful for your time! Thank you again.

Chris

I look forward to chatting with you Chris, I'll drop you a PM with my contact details.

I'm sure it would interesting to the LLM-Guide.com users to hear further perspectives from others on this discussion too.