Plug for a new course

Hey everyone,

This is tangential, but I am pleased to announce that Osgoode has accepted our proposal for a new course in legal information technology for the 2014/2015 academic year. The course focuses on technology and its application in legal practice. It is not a course in the law of technology (e.g., telecommunications law, IP, etc). We are going to be doing three things:

1. Giving students opportunities to use current applications (e.g., eDiscovery,  automated document generation) and to learn about upcoming software tools.
2. Teaching students the basics of (non-technical) application design.
3. Providing an opportunity for critical reflection on the role of technology in law, including its potential for transforming legal practice and access to justice.

The course is open to anyone, so you don't need a technical background. The evaluation scheme includes a final project, critical reflection piece, and hands-on exercises. It is a skill-building course at heart, and I think it will be markedly different from the standard law class. Lastly, it has been approved for purposes of the praxicum requirement.

All in all, I am excited, as this is the first offering of its kind in Canada. Legal tech is a hot topic in the US and UK, where technology and legal service delivery are really changing the legal landscape. I think that it is only a matter of time before we see similar changes here, with accompanying disruptions to the labour market. (Things are not so good here in the US for new graduates, as you may be aware). The practical portion of the course is intended to prepare law students for these changes, allowing them to access some of the emerging legal professions that are growing in popularity in other locales.

The course will be co-instructed with (new) adjunct professors Monica Goyal and Darin Thompson. They are fantastic and passionate about this area, and I'm excited to have them join the Osgoode community.

James