These are exciting times to study for an LL.M. in Technology Law. In recent years, there’s been an explosion in e-commerce and novel internet services. Not to mention that artificial intelligence, robotics, virtual reality, and neurotechnology have moved from the realms of science fiction into today’s reality, with such technologies embedded into everyday life in many corners of the global economy. All of which Technology Law LL.M. students must grapple with.
That also means that often the most valuable assets of many companies are intangible. Businesses trying to differentiate themselves from the competition via innovation are relying on intellectual property rights to ensure their creativity and hard graft is rewarded. But many are having to turn to the law to squash third parties who want to infringe their copyrights, trademarks, or patents. Indeed, there tends to be some overlap between LL.M.s in Technology Law and those in Intellectual Property Law.
Never has there been such a need for well-trained lawyers in these fields. Consequently, specialist Technology LL.M. programs—as well as LL.M.s in Information Technology and in related fields—have emerged at the world’s top law schools. They cover such topics as cybersecurity and information privacy, which are very topical among businesses and consumers alike.
To get where you want to go in tech law, here are the top 10 LL.M. programs in Technology Law that you should be considering. Whether you're aiming for a career in cybersecurity, intellectual property rights, or navigating the legal complexities of emerging technologies, these Technology Law LL.M. programs offer comprehensive education and networking opportunities in this dynamic field.
This top school in California offers a Certificate in Law and Technology to students on its highly ranked LL.M. degree program. The certificate requires completion of at least two core courses in technology, for example intellectual property, patent, trademark or information privacy law. Students also have to take part in a practical activity for two semesters, which can include joining a student-led society, such as Blockchain @ Berkeley Law or Women in Tech Law.
View School ProfileThe globally-revered, research-driven Dickson Poon School of Law at King’s College London runs an excellent specialist LL.M. in Intellectual Property and Information Law. Courses are highly relevant and fresh, covering how to regulate innovation and creativity – a tough task. In the heart of London, the UK capital that is home to a plethora of leading tech companies, law firms and myriad other institutions, King’s provides students with great networking opportunities and career prospects.
View School ProfileEdinburgh Law School in Scotland, part of the UK, runs an LL.M. in Information Technology Law. The course is highly topical, exploring next-generation regulation created in response to the rapid growth of information technology across industries, countries and legal jurisdictions. The program covers everything from cloud computing to ecommerce and communications, with a global lens. This Technology Law LL.M. welcomes both lawyers and tech specialists who do not have a background in the legal profession.
View School ProfileIf you are looking for a Technology Law LL.M. in Asia, look no further. The Singapore-based school has been investing heavily in technology law research; in 2019 it announced the launch of the Centre for Technology, Robotics, Artificial Intelligence & the Law, which promises to promote interdisciplinary research in technology and the law. NUS’ LL.M. specialization in Intellectual Property & Technology Law is well regarded throughout Asia and worldwide.
View School ProfileQueen Mary University of London offers an LL.M. in Technology, Media and Telecommunications Law, in both online and in-class formats. In the online version of the program, students study for between three or six years via a mixture of on-campus and online learning. That means they do not need to give up their jobs or salaries to get the LL.M. The law school itself has consistently been ranked in the top 10 for law schools in the UK for the quality of its teaching and research. Faculty are well regarded, having acted as advisors to law firms, tech companies, governments and NGOs. QMUL also hosts the Institute of Computer and Communications Law, which produces technology law-related research and other activities.
View School ProfileStanford Law School runs an LL.M. in Law, Science and Technology. The course provides rigorous academic and professional schooling in areas such as ecommerce, cyberspace, biotechnology, health science and intellectual property. Stanford is one of the world’s most revered law schools, consistently ranked among the best by the top rankings providers. Its location in the heart of Silicon Valley, the world’s foremost tech hub, provides unmatched opportunities to network with some of the world’s biggest names in tech and venture capital, from Google to Accel Partners.
View School ProfileNYU runs an LL.M. in Competition, Innovation and Information Law that covers such topical subjects as antitrust and intellectual property. The course draws on NYU’s strength in international law and its expert faculty, who have significant experience in government and private practice. Students can get exposed to the latest, world-leading research via several extracurricular events throughout the year, for example the annual Innovation Policy Colloquium that explores the law’s role in promoting creativity and invention. NYU’s Guarini Institute for Global Legal Studies is a research leader in the connections between technology and international laws.
View School ProfileCornell Tech offers an LL.M. in Law, Technology and Entrepreneurship. Cornell Tech is a multi-billion-dollar high-tech university based on New York City’s Roosevelt Island, the brainchild of financial media mogul Michael Bloomberg. The ethos of the school is cross-disciplinary learning: law students learn alongside business, engineering and design students. The LL.M. courses are practically-oriented; building real tech products and businesses for example, which is superb practice for any budding technology lawyer.
View School ProfileA strong Technology Law LL.M. in Belgium: KU Leuven’s Centre for IT & IP Law builds on the school’s strong tech heritage: it was created in 2014 through a merger between the Interdisciplinary Centre for Law and ICT and the Centre for Intellectual Property Rights, each of which had been in existence, independently, for decades. Beyond running the well-regarded LL.M. in Intellectual Property and ICT Law (along with some Dutch-language programs), the Centre also produces a range of research in data protection, privacy, intellectual property, and other technology-focused topics.
View School ProfileStudents in the EULISP program are exposed to a range of topics that explore how European regulations and law affect intellectual property, information technology, and other technology-related issues. This unique program allows students to spend a semester at one of the University of Hanover’s partner schools, including Strathclyde University, Pontificia Buenos Aires’ Universidad Católica de Argentina, Kyushu University (Japan), and the University of Oslo.
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