UCD: New LLM Stream in Information Technology and Intellectual Property Law

TJM

Some inhabitants of this forum might be interested to know that the UCD School of Law is launching a new stream in the LLM, in Information Technology and Intellectual Property Law. This parallels the existing streams in European Law, Commercial Law and Criminology and is open to anyone joining the LLM (full time or part time) from September 2009 onwards. As with the other LLM streams, there is a common entry process and you can decide on your stream once in the course.

The stream has just been approved and as such isn't yet on the website, but if you have any questions I'm happy to respond via this thread.

Milk & Honey

I never knew there was a part time LLM in UCD. How is it structured?

TJM

The part time degree is run over two years. You would generally take 30 credits in year one, with 30 credits plus dissertation in year 2. (Most courses are 12 weeks, 2 classroom hrs/week for 10 credits.) I should point out though that at the moment part-time students are offered the same modules as full-time students, i.e. no classes are specially timetabled for part-time students.

Milk & Honey

What times are the classes lectures at? Are they anytime thoriughout the day or evening? Is attendance compulsory?

TJM

Lecture times vary. Most are between 9 and 5 but some are 5-7 in the evening. Attendance is compulsory particularly as more courses are moving towards a seminar / student presentation format.

pansoul

An interesting and positive development for IT law in Ireland. I did the LLM in UCD last year, really enjoyed a few of the IT courses on offer, and would have loved if this innovation was in place for me. Oh well. Maybe I'll go back to do it again.

Could you give a flavour of the new subjects being introduced please TJM?

TJM

Some of the courses already exist and are being tailored slightly to fit them into the new stream (you'll be familiar with these pansoul) while some are new. By way of example, courses will provisionally include:

(New) Digital Investigations and the Law (digital evidence, e-discovery, workplace electronic surveillance, legal issues relating to hacking/cracking tools and so forth) (Offered in conjunction with the School of Computer Science and Informatics)
(New) Information Law (A wide ranging course to include data protection issues)
(Existing) Regulation of Online Activity (covering areas such as cybercrime, internet filtering and state surveillance)
(Existing) Intellectual Property Rights and IT Law (domain name disputes, keywords, the filesharing wars, impact of database rights etc.)

Existing courses in Unfair Competition, Trademarks, Copyright & Designs and Patent law will also be included. Other existing courses (particularly Electronic Commerce and Technology Transfer) will be included but may not run in 09/10.

panda142

Can I ask what the situation would be then if I had an offer for the LLM in Commercial Law but wanted to apply for this LLM?

And, are the fees the same as per the other LLMs i.e. approx €8,000?

TJM

panda142 wrote: »

Can I ask what the situation would be then if I had an offer for the LLM in Commercial Law but wanted to apply for this LLM?

And, are the fees the same as per the other LLMs i.e. approx €8,000?

The new stream is part of the existing degree so the fees are the same.

As a general rule there is common entry to the LLM with subsequent specialisation in the various streams - i.e. once you are admitted to the LLM you are generally free to choose which subjects to take and which area to write on for your dissertation. This will then determine the type of LLM you receive. While we ask you to indicate which stream you intend to pursue, this is primarily indicative and you are free to choose subjects outside your indicated stream if you wish once you commence.

Arsenal1986

Sounds like a very interesting LLM, is there a market for Intellectual property lawyers in Ireland, is it a growth area?

_JOE_

Are the lecturers confirmed for the new modules? Can you say who they are?

TJM

Lecturers will include myself and Prof. Robert Clark. Others are assigned but not yet set in stone.

pansoul

TJM wrote: »

Others are assigned but not yet set in stone.

I know ye're good lecturers and everything, but are busts in the corridors of Roebuck not a bit much?

BoardsRanger

Hi TJ. I have applied for the LLM but did not state on the application as to what area i wanted to specialise. The course you mention above sounds very interesting to me. How is it for places? Should i call the administrations staff and indicate my preference?

FreudianSlippers

What's the story with UCD and late application to the LLM programme? Now that the King's Inns exams are getting close I'm afraid I should have applied to more LLMs

johnfás

Anyone know in general when we can expect a little bit more information on the LLM at UCD? I have accepted a place on it but I haven't got any information from it beyond that. The information on the website in general terms is sparse and the more specific information is for last year so I don't know whether those modules are still running...