Graduate Certificate in Emerging Technologies and Law

Learn to drive innovative legal practices and develop the skills, knowledge and confidence required to provide legal guidance in the digital age.

Industry partners:

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Flexible online learning

This is study that works around your lifestyle. Work online, after hours, or in your own time.

Real world skills

Learn practical, real-world skills that can be immediately applied in the workplace.

Full-time support

Our team of support advisors will be with you throughout the course, along with academic tutors and course coordinators.

Industry connected

We combine the forces of a leading technology university with high-profile industry partners.

Propel your career

Online postgraduate programs receive the same qualification as on-campus, without putting your life on hold.

Future-focussed

RMIT Online courses are shaped by future of work needs. You’ll learn the latest skills and technologies required for in-demand jobs.

RMIT Online offers a world-class education that delivers work-ready skills and knowledge to transform your legal career.

Your experience with RMIT Online

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The first postgraduate accreditation of its kind in Australia, this program empowers legal and technology professionals to deal with the radical change of digital disruption in the law and policy.

Designed in partnership with industry for real world insights, you will grapple with topics such as data, security and privacy, the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) and blockchain, and learn how to drive innovative legal service delivery in your workplace and for your clients.

Delivered 100% online, you have the flexibility to fit your study around your work schedule as you hone the skills to succeed in tomorrow's legal realm or the booming world of tech.

Why emerging legal technologies?

“The legal sector is changing, and it's not enough to just be a good lawyer anymore. To stay relevant in this industry, you need to learn about new technologies and how to apply them to the work you do.”

Peter Campbell DirectorClient Solutions, Hall & Wilcox

The benefits of a graduate certificate

A graduate certificate is a postgraduate university qualification that typically takes a year to complete. Our programs feature up-to-the-minute content alongside best practices, case studies and examples of real-world challenges from our industry partners.

The RMIT edge

RMIT’s focus on industry-based, practical learning has seen our law programs ranked #1 in Victoria for skills development and among the top 10 for employer reputation in Australia.

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This program explores the capabilities and limitations of current emerging technologies and how they intersect with law and regulations. You will develop the critical thinking skills to assess and adopt new technologies to drive innovation in client services and work settings.

Course overview

• The impacts of emerging technologies

• Legal and policy frameworks for adopting emerging technologies

• How to manage data security and privacy risk

• Blockchain applications in the legal sphere

• Cyber security risk management and governance

• Legal AI and automation governance

• Tools to support your clients and workplace to adopt emerging technologies

Learning outcomes

What you create

• Data breach legal and policy response plan

• Customer needs report of legal, ethical & regulatory considerations

• Blockchain strategy

• Cyber security risk management and governance plan

• Blockchain, AI and machine learning strategies

• Comparative analysis of emerging technology law and regulations

Duration:6 months full time, 12 months part time.Expect 10–12 hours study per week per course, with each term comprising 10 weeks.

Price:$3,840 per course. Program total: $15,360*

* Plus a capped Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) based on your credit point enrolment load. FEE-HELP and other financial support may be available.

Fees typically increase each year and may change without notice. Total fees are estimates and should only be used as a guide.

Prerequisites / level of study:There are some pre-requisites for this course.

You’ll need: – An Australian Bachelor degree (or equivalent), or a

higher-level qualification in a related discipline. – If you don’t have a Bachelor degree or equivalent, you’ll

still be considered if you have five years’ relevant full-time work experience

Enrolment:Next intakes in July, October, January, April,

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The online student experience – supporting you through to graduation day

Study online, 24/7. Coursework is always accessible, so you don’t have to reduce work hours or compromise your lifestyle.

The driving force behind this program is the industry connections you’ll make while studying. Learn from renowned academics and industry experts.

Build strategies and policies that you can take into the workplace. Learning is largely project-based, including guest lectures from industry experts and real-world case studies.

Personalised support and assistance keeps you motivated and on the right track.

• Your student success advisor will give you one-on-one guidance

• You’ll also have access to an Online Facilitator and Course Coordinator

Graduate with a globally recognised degree.

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Entrance requirements

There are some pre-requisites for this course. You’ll need:

–  An Australian Bachelor degree (or equivalent).

–   If you do not have a Bachelor degree or equivalent, you will still be considered if you have five years’ full-time work experience in the fields of law, policy or technology. You will need to submit a curriculum vitae (CV).

English language

International students are required to provide current evidence of English language proficiency for admission to RMIT University.

You can provide your results from one of these three options: 1. An accepted English language proficiency test, or2. An accepted English language provider, or3. A recognised Australian or international qualification.

For detailed information on English language requirements and other proficiency tests recognised by RMIT, visit the English language requirements and equivalency information.

Australian Student Visas

RMIT’s Online Graduate Certificate in Emerging Technologies and Law does not meet Australian student visa requirements. For an Australian student visa, you must have an on-campus place in a program of study. For more details on RMIT’s on-campus programs visit rmit.edu.au.

PrerequisitesCredit pathways

At RMIT Online, we're committed to supporting your lifelong learning journey. Our flexible learning pathways can be tailored to align with your individual educational goals. Some of our Future Skills short courses, when taken in certain combinations, are eligible for credit in the Graduate Certificate in Emerging Technologies & Law

For a full list of the Future Skills combinations and eligibility, please refer here. To be eligible for a credit transfer, you will also need to meet this program’s entry requirements. The Future Skills course must be a current credential or completed within the last 10 years. Individual Future Skills courses are not recognised under the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF).

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On the successful completion of this program you will be equipped to: • Provide advice and recommendations for legal issues and policy formation by analysing the limitations, capabilities and

the ways emerging technologies interact with the economy and society, current law, regulation, and policy frameworks

Develop strategies for adopting emerging technologies in various institutional contexts by critically evaluating the

intersections of emerging technologies with the economy and society, the law, legal practice, and governance

• Formulate logical, adaptable and sustainable policies and legal frameworks for managing emerging technologies

and privacy issues

• Devise recommendations for data security, access, sharing and storage policies and frameworks that consider key

ethics, risk and governance issues under Australian and international privacy laws.

• Design and formulate innovative solutions that utilise emerging technologies and balance risks, costs, and benefits in

organisational contexts.

What’s in the program?

In this program you will learn and apply skills to analyse technology in order to give advice and recommendations for legal issues and policy formation. You will gain knowledge about the capabilities and limitations of current emerging technologies and how they intersect with current law and regulations. You will develop the critical thinking and analytical skills to assess and adopt new technologies to drive innovation and apply this through a variety of activity-based learning experiences.

Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs):

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In this course, you will develop an advanced understanding of the key principles of Australian and international privacy laws. You will comprehend the value of personal and commercial data in an increasingly connected world and examine the obligations of organisations in relation to the collection, storage and use of customer data. You’ll critically examine the legal, security and privacy issues that arise from the collection, storage and usage of such data and examine the response required from organisations in the event of a data breach. The ethical, social and regulatory implications of key privacy and data topics will be examined, while technology solutions for greater transparency, privacy and security will be explored.

On successful completion of this course you will be able to:

• Examine the value of personal data to emerging technologies and the ways personal data is constrained and

protected by Australian and International law

• Analyse and explain the business and organisational responsibilities for the collection, access, sharing and

storage of personal data under Australian and International privacy laws and regulations.

• Critically examine the ways data collection, storage, sharing and access of emerging technologies outpaces

current laws and regulations.

• Develop ethical and sustainable legal frameworks and policies to manage the access, sharing and storage

of data under Australian and key international privacy laws and regulations.

• Recommend emerging technology solutions to improve the privacy and transparency of data use, sharing

and storage.

Assessments

• Data breach legal and policy response plan

• Case study: Analysis of issues and regulation contravention

• Policy recommendations

Data and Privacy in the Digital Age

PROGRAM > COURSE DETAILS

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In this course, you will apply creative, strategic and customer-centric theories and approaches to formulate innovative solutions to legal and business/organisational problems. You will recognise the opportunities and limitations of emerging technologies and advocate their use in specific situations to improve functionality, quality and efficiency for clients and stakeholders. You will adopt an innovation mindset and undertake the process of customer discovery to uncover the challenges that clients and stakeholders of legal services commonly face, and identify emerging technology solutions that address these needs. The preparation of a recommendation report will advise senior management and stakeholders of the benefits, costs and risks associated with the proposed technology solution while outlining the required delivery and implementation process.

On successful completion of this course you will be able to:

• Evaluate legal business or organisational functions to identify innovative opportunities for emerging technologies

to improve productivity and functionality.

• Design innovative and ethical emerging technology solutions for legal business and organisations by using

human-centred design approaches and tools.

• Formulate technological solutions and associated policies to enhance organisational processes or client services

that effectively balance risk, costs, and benefits.

Assessments

• Organisational analysis

• Customer needs report and analysis of legal, regulatory and ethical considerations

• Proposal and recommendation

Innovative Legal Practice

PROGRAM > COURSE DETAILS

This course examines the emergence of new technologies and business models over the past decade and the impact that they have had on society, ethics, law, regulation and policy. You will dissect the pressures emerging technologies place on current regulatory approaches and frameworks. Traditional approaches to regulation and policy development and key examples of current regulation will be examined. You will study a range of theories and approaches to developing fit-for-purpose regulation, and be equipped with the skills and knowledge to develop policy and regulation that can keep pace with technological change.

On successful completion of this course you will be able to:

• Analyse and discuss the ethical, social and legal issues arising from the rapid uptake of emerging technologies

• Critically examine the legal, ethical, societal and privacy concerns arising from the gap between current legal and

regulatory frameworks and the capabilities of emerging technologies.

• Evaluate and discuss the current approaches to adapting laws, policies, and regulations to meet the challenges

presented by emerging technology

• Formulate logical, adaptable and sustainable policies and legal frameworks for adopting and managing emerging

technologies

Assessments

• Case Study: emerging technology impact on society and regulation

• Comparative analysis of emerging technology laws and regulations

• Policy and regulation proposal

Law and Policy for Emerging Technologies

PROGRAM > COURSE DETAILS

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The Developing Artificial Intelligence Strategy component will equip you with a deep understanding of AI and effective strategies, frameworks and approaches to navigate this emerging technology area its applications within organisations and society. You will cover the various areas of AI, including machine learning, deep learning, natural language processing and voice recognition. The potential challenges, limitations, and opportunities for AI adoption will be explored from a legal and regulatory perspective.

The Cyber Security Risk and Governance component will expose you to the importance of cyber security and the theory and practices of good governance. It will cover key risk management frameworks, including how to apply these frameworks to assess and manage risks in a business. You will deep dive into the stages of cyber security management including prevention, protection and response, and disclosure responsibilities and requirements.

Future Skills: Developing AI Strategy and Cyber Security Risk and Governance

PROGRAM > COURSE DETAILS

On successful completion of this course you will be able to:

• Critically analyse the fundamentals and ethics of AI and machine learning to identify appropriate solutions to business

problems and the associated challenges, limitations and opportunities.

• Examine and evaluate the effect of AI and cyber security on commercial operations and consider legal and regulatory

threats to recommend risk mitigation strategies and approaches.

• Formulate and communicate plans to mitigate the legal, regulatory, and commercial risks from a cyber security breach.

• Critically evaluate the importance of governance theories and frameworks for modern businesses exposed to

opportunities and risks associated with emerging technologies.

Assessments

• Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning strategy

• Strategy report: develop a cyber security risk management strategy and a post-incident strategy to address a cyber-

attack

Future Skills are up-to-the-minute, industry led-modules that focus on important capability areas for a product manager. Choose one of the following RMIT Online Future Skills electives to add to your learning experience.

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The Developing Blockchain Strategy component will equip you with a deep understanding of blockchain technology and its applications through a societal lens. You will learn the basic technology and economics of the blockchain economy, and the opportunities and challenges this presents for industry and society. Theory and frameworks to apply blockchain technology in organisational contexts will be explored by developing a blockchain strategy.

The Cyber Security Risk and Governance component will expose you to the importance of cyber security amidst our landscape of rapidly emerging technologies, and the theory and practices of good governance. It will cover key risk management frameworks, including how to apply these frameworks to assess and manage risk in a business. You will deep dive into the stages of cyber security management including prevention, protection and response, and disclosure responsibilities and requirements.

On successful completion of this course you will be able to:

• Examine the technology and economics of the blockchain economy to identify opportunities and develop strategies

for using blockchain within various organisational contexts.

• Examine and evaluate the effect of blockchain technology and cyber security on commercial operations and

consider legal and regulatory threats to recommend risk mitigation approaches and governance strategies.

• Formulate and communicate plans to mitigate the legal, regulatory, and commercial risks from a cyber security breach.

• Critically evaluate the importance of governance theories and frameworks for modern businesses exposed to

opportunities and risks associated with emerging technologies.

Assessments

• Blockchain business strategy.

• Strategy report: develop a cyber security risk management strategy and a post-incident strategy to

address a cyber-attack.

Future Skills: Developing Blockchain Strategy and Cyber Security Risk and Governance

PROGRAM > COURSE DETAILS

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Work-connected learning

Dr Daniel Hochstrasser is the Program Manager and Course Coordinator for the Graduate Certificate in Emerging Technologies and Law. Daniel currently teaches Discrimination Law and Commercial Law and is course coordinator for Evidence Law in the RMIT Graduate School of Business and Law. In addition to his teaching experience, Daniel practised as a lawyer for several years before commencing his PhD studies. 

RMIT Online works with leading experts at the forefront of their fields, multiplying the force of industry with a world-leading university. By studying with RMIT Online, you can level up your skills and qualifications through work-connected, relevant learning.

Dr Daniel HochstrasserProgram Manager, RMIT

Industry partner:

With over 19 years experience in learning design both domestically and internationally, Joyce has a passion for building dynamic, engaging and world-class learning experiences.

Joyce SeitzingerLearning Design Director, RMIT Online

”Our graduate certificates are co-designed with industry, which means our courses use authentic tools and templates, refer to best-practice and industry standards, and contain real-world case studies, examples and problems. When you graduate you’re not just ready for the next step; you’ve already been applying your new knowledge in your work.”

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STEP 1 Chat to a Student Enrolment Advisor

Our Student Enrolment Advisors have all the information you will need to choose the best course for you. They can even coach you through the enrolment process over the phone. You can call our Student Enrolment Advisors during business hours on 1300 145 032. They’ll be able to help with any questions regarding the application process, RMIT course fees, and how online study works.

STEP 2 Send us your documents

All you have to do is fill out and submit the relevant course application forms. Your RMIT Course Consultant can guide you through this process. It doesn’t take more than a few minutes.

STEP 3 Wait to hear from us!

If there are any extra steps necessary, your Student Enrolment Advisor will let you know. Once you’re enrolled, you’ll also be able to access your course details via our Student Portal. For more information, visit online.rmit.edu.au

Ready to get started? Enrolment in our graduate certificate is easy. Get in touch with one of our Student Enrolment Advisors today and we can get the wheels moving.

*Further Information Every effort has been made to ensure the information contained in this publication is accurate and current at the date of publishing. For the most up-to-date information, please refer to the RMIT Online website before lodging your application.

Last modified: July 30, 2021 1:23 PM