MLL348 - Transformative Technologies and the Law
Unit details
| Year | 2026 unit information |
|---|---|
| Enrolment modes | Trimester 2: Burwood (Melbourne), Online |
| Credit point(s) | 1 |
| EFTSL value | 0.125 |
| Unit chair | Trimester 2: Cath Nolan |
| Cohort rule | This unit is only available to students enrolled in D308, D312, D322, D323, D331, D334, D335, D396, D397, M312 |
| Prerequisite | MLL110, MLL113, MLP235 and MLP331 |
| Corequisite | Nil |
| Incompatible with | MLJ748 |
| Educator-facilitated (scheduled) learning activities - on-campus unit enrolment | 1 x 1 hour on-campus lecture (recordings provided) per week and 1 x 2 hour on-campus seminar (recordings provided) each week. |
| Educator-facilitated (scheduled) learning activities - online unit enrolment | 1 x 1 hour online lecture (recordings provided) per week and 1 x 2 hour online seminar (recordings provided) each week. |
| Typical study commitment | Students will on average spend 150 hours over the trimester undertaking the teaching, learning and assessment activities for this unit. This will include educator guided online learning activities within the unit site. |
Content
The legal profession is undergoing profound change driven by rapid developments in emerging technologies. From machine-generated legal advice, AI enhanced legal drafting and research tools, through to predictive policing, and cyberwarfare, the boundaries of what law governs—and how lawyers work—are shifting. Transformative Technologies and the Law explores the interaction between the practice of law, legal frameworks, ethics, innovation, and disruption. Students will critically analyse how lawyers can competently and ethically integrate emerging digital tools into practice, while also engaging with the legal, social, and regulatory implications of transformative technologies. Drawing on interdisciplinary theory and practice, real-world case studies, and tools from design thinking and legal foresight, students will learn to assess legal risks and opportunities, critique regulatory systems, and propose reforms or innovations that anticipate the next wave of legal disruption.
Learning outcomes
Each unit in your course is a building block towards Deakin's Graduate Learning Outcomes - not all units develop and assess every Graduate Learning Outcome (GLO).
| ULO | These are the Unit Learning Outcomes (ULOs) for this unit. At the completion of this unit, successful students can: | Alignment to Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes (GLOs) |
|---|---|---|
| ULO1 | Identify and analyse how emerging technologies challenge existing legal assumptions and frameworks, using relevant statutes, case law, and regulatory principles. | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge GLO4: Critical thinking |
| ULO2 | Advise clients about the legal risks associated with the deployment and use of emerging technologies across various sectors, including commercial, governmental, and consumer domains. | GLO2: Communication |
| ULO3 | Analyse and evaluate the adequacy of current legal and regulatory approaches to technology, and the ethical and legal challenges facing lawyers in using emerging technologies in legal work and propose informed reforms or legal strategies. | GLO3: Digital literacy GLO4: Critical thinking |
Assessment
Trimester 2:| Assessment Description | Student Output | Grading and Weighting (% total mark for unit) | Indicative Due Week |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Task 1: Part A: (Individual) Presentation (Recorded) Part B: (Individual) Presentation Slide Deck | Part A: 10 mins Part B: 10 slides | Part A: 25% Part B: 15% | Week 6 |
| End-of-unit assessment: written | 2000 words (approx 2 hours) | 60% | End-of-unit Assessment period |
The assessment due weeks provided may change. The Unit Chair will clarify the exact assessment requirements, including the due date, at the start of the teaching period.
Hurdle requirements
Nil
Learning resource
There is no prescribed text. Unit materials are provided via the unit site. This includes unit topic readings and references to further information.
Bring Your Own Device (BYOD)
To fully engage with Deakin's learning experiences, students must be able to access and use internet-connected devices as outlined in computing requirements at Deakin.
To support student success at Deakin, we have a bring-your-own-device (BYOD) learning environment that acknowledges that students and educators bring with them the digital tools they regularly use to complete academic tasks. These tools stay with you beyond the classroom, helping you to keep learning, explore ideas more deeply, and connect with knowledge in ways that matter to you.
Students requiring a loan device should visit our Loan Laptop webpage or students requiring longer-term assistance should visit our Student Financial Assistance webpage.
Unit fee information
Fees and charges vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study and their study discipline, and your study load.
Tuition fees increase at the beginning of each calendar year and all fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD). Tuition fees do not include textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment or costs such as mandatory checks, travel and consumables.
For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current Students website.