Antwerp, Belgium

Legal Technology and Legal Innovation

when 26 August 2024 - 30 August 2024
language English
duration 1 week
credits 3 EC
fee EUR 1500

In this summer course students will gain a better understanding of the concepts of legal technology and legal innovation as well as the importance of these concepts in the evolution of the legal world.

They will understand the basic principles of the programming language Python and will be able to apply these principles in simple coding exercises.

They will learn to code a decision tree, a mechanism that is daily used by lawyers, sometimes without being aware of it. Students will understand how a computer makes decisions and how it can make predictions by using so called explaining algorithms. That way students will also gain insights in how a computer can predict judicial decisions.

Students will also meet several legal start-ups and will understand the opportunities of legal technology and legal innovation in the business and customer services of these start-ups. 

One of these opportunities are the so called smart contracts. The concept of smart contracts will be analysed. The following questions are addressed:

What is a smart contract?

What is the legal value of a smart contract?

What are the legal difficulties that might arise using a smart contract?

Besides this, students will also learn about the technical aspects of a smart contract and will learn how to put the basic principles of coding a smart contract into practice.

Finally, the students will gain a better understanding of the concept of legal design thinking, in which a multidisciplinary frame is used to present and approach legal problems and legal services in an innovative and customer friendly way. Students will also apply the basic principles of legal design thinking in short exercises. The summer school ends with a Legal Tech Game. Students who successfully participate in this test will receive a certificate.

Target group

Master students in Law and Law professionals. No prior knowledge is required.

Credits info

3 EC
Successful completion of the summer school can be awarded with 3 credits according the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS). Credits will be awarded on the basis of:

preparatory readings and excercices
100 % (active) participation during the course, including preparing and presenting coding excercises and excercises in legal design
succesfull participation of the legal tech game at the end of the course.
To include the credits in the curriculum at the home institution, participants need an agreement with the responsible person at their university.

A certificate will be awarded at the end of the programme. All certificates of completion are issued as a micro-credential.

Fee info

EUR 1500: Regular fee

Fee includes lectures, course material, coffee breaks, a closing ceremony and social activities. Does not include accommodation, meals or travel arrangements.
EUR 750: Students fee

Fee includes lectures, course material, coffee breaks, a closing ceremony and social activities. Does not include accommodation, meals or travel arrangements.