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LLM (Master of Laws) IT and Telecommunications Law
The field of IT and Telecommunications Law is perhaps the most necessarily protean branch of legal practice in the modern world. Owing to the influence of our global information culture, and its constant evolution, this legal sector faces emergent issues head on, and crafts regulations accordingly. IT law governs the legal aspects of information technology, including digital information and software, and their dissemination. Telecommunications law is somewhat different, in that it applies to electronic communication and broadcast systems. These discrete definitions aside, these areas of expertise are closely linked.
An LLM in IT and Telecommunications Law will prepare graduates to navigate the complex policies and regulations intrinsic to the governance of global information and broadcast systems. Additionally, the study of these disciplines is likely to touch on other aspects of broadcast regulation, including cyber security, intellectual property rights, digital rights management, and digital privacy.
The significance of understanding the legal aspects of information and modern day communication continues to become more glaring with each day. With more and more sophisticated devices being introduced into the market impacting communication and the cyber space, it has become necessary to stay updated on regulatory changes in this dynamic regime. Whether for academic, personal or professional development, this LLM is an ideal choice for law graduates, lawyers and IT specialists seeking to equip themselves with the skills and knowledge to formulate and apply law in the information society. IT and telecommunication sectors share an overlapping legal regime including common problems such as security, risk management an IPR. Given the global implications of these sectors and a growing demand for well-trained legal experts, this course can be ideal for you.
Find LLM programs in IT LawLLM in IT & Telecommunications Law – who’s it for?
As with most other LLMs, the pursuit of a Masters degree in IT and Telecommunications law is open to honors graduates of regular law degrees (LLBs) and to experienced legal professionals alike. Some LLMs will admit non law graduates, but usually only under special circumstances.
Where can you study an LLM in IT & Telecommunications Law?
The telecommunications industry is global in scale, and employs millions of people. As such, this means the industry's regulatory framework requires many thousands of legal minds to maintain and protect its various assets. There are an abundance of university programs offering an LLM in IT and telecommunications. A couple of examples include the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, which offers a comprehensive LLM in Internet Law and Policy. While providing students with a strong base in the established conventions of this legal branch, this program strives to keep students au courant with the latest issues affecting policy creation and regulation management. Meanwhile the University of Nebraska College of Law in the United States has recently launched the first English language LLM in Telecom Law that also encompasses the study of the law of Space. A truly unique program in North America that ranges from Earthly topics like frequency bandwidth allocation all the way to stellar issues like strategic space defence law.
What qualifications do you need to study an LLM in IT & Telecommunications Law?
To study any LLM, applicants need to have completed a bachelors degree in law, with honours, or have received a Juris Doctor degree in an equivalent field. Typically speaking, the above applicants will also be required to have between one and two years of professional experience. As mentioned above, non law graduate applicants may be considered for LLM admission, but must have achieved very high levels of academic performance in their undergraduate studies. In addition to submitting relevant letters of recommendation and official transcripts from previous colleges/universities, international applicants must also note that they will be required to meet language requirements (TOEFL/IELTS) based on the minimum scores prescribed by the university. Click here to find out more about studying law in the English language as an international student.
Student case study
“The best thing about practicing...law is that I'm exposed to such a diverse group of people with such a broad range of...experiences that I'm constantly learning new things.”
Joel Sandaluk, Mamann, Sandaluk and Kingwell LLP
An LLM in IT & Telecommunications Law advances careers in...
- IT Systems Management
- Military Law
- Defense Intelligence
- Consumer Advocacy
IT & Telecommunications Law fast facts
Over 3.2 billion people in hundreds of different countries worldwide have access to the internet at any given time. That's a lot of usage to regulate.
Think illegal file sharing is just a recent problem? In fact, it's been going on since the early days of the internet. McGill University in Montreal was forced to shut down its FTP site in 1989 when it was found to account for half of all internet traffic from the USA to Canada!
A fixture of the American broadcast news landscape for nearly 50 years, Geraldo Rivera graduated in the top five of his class at Brooklyn Law in 1969.
American child star Charlie Korsmo, known for his roles in the movies Dick Tracey, What about Bob?, and Disney's Hook, has had an incredible academic career. Korsmo earned a degree in physics from MIT, and then worked in missile defense for the US military. He then earned his Juris Doctor from Yale, and in 2015 was awarded a spot in US President Barack Obama's administration as a legal adviser.
Recommended reading
Telecommunications Law and Regulation Edited by Ian Walden
Canadian Telecommunications Law by Robert Howell
Technology Transactions by Mark Malvin
Regulating Media – The Licensing and Superunion of Broadcasting in Six Countries by W Hoffmann-Riem
Telecommunications Law and Regulation by Ian Walden
Competition Law and Regulation in European Telecommunications by Pierre Larouche
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LLM (Master of Laws) in IT & Computer Law
