Legal Technology and Innovation
Overview
This unit examines how law, artificial intelligence, design, and digital innovation converge in modern legal practice. As generative AI and automation transform the legal profession, students will develop practical skills to utilise these technologies through a design-led approach. Through hands-on projects, they will learn to identify and address challenges in legal service delivery. Students will gain experience with current legal tech tools, design AI-enhanced legal solutions, and develop essential skills in automated decision-making systems. The unit emphasises practical applications that equip students for a technology-driven legal career while also addressing ethical considerations in a changing legal environment.
Requisites
75 credit points in Law units
05-October-2025
02-November-2025
Learning outcomes
Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:
- Evaluate and implement AI and automation technologies that enable legal service delivery.
- Represent a legal decision making process as a series of logical steps
- Design and prototype innovative legal tech solutions that address real-world challenges in legal practice.
- Collaborate effectively in teams to develop and communicate technology-enabled legal solutions to diverse stakeholders.
Teaching methods
Hawthorn
| Type | Hours per week | Number of weeks | Total (number of hours) |
|---|---|---|---|
| On-campus Class | 3.00 | 12 weeks | 36 |
| Online Lecture | 1.00 | 12 weeks | 12 |
| Unspecified Activities Independent Learning | 8.50 | 12 weeks | 102 |
| TOTAL | 150 |
Swinburne Online
| Type | Hours per week | Number of weeks | Total (number of hours) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online Directed Online Learning and Independent Learning | 11.50 | 12 weeks | 138 |
| Live Online Class | 1.00 | 12 weeks | 12 |
| TOTAL | 150 |
Assessment
| Type | Task | Weighting | ULO's |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portfolio | Individual | 50 - 70% | 1,2,3 |
| Practical Assignment | Group | 30 - 50% | 1,2,3,4 |
Content
- Computational legal thinking and logic
- AI and automation in legal practice
- Human-centered design for legal solutions
- Legal service design and innovation
- Digital transformation of legal services
- Legal tech evaluation and implementation
Study resources
Reading materials
A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.