The interaction between law and technology is complex. There are at least three ways in which this interaction can be viewed: legal technology, technology law, and the impact of technology on existing laws.

This module explains these three modes of interaction and sets the stage for the rest of the Certificate. It covers basic legal concepts, such as Singapore's legal system, the difference between statutory and common law, the difference between criminal and civil law, and the role of lawyers. This provides essential background knowledge for non-legally trained participants to understand and appreciate other modules in the Certificate.

This module is part of the Graduate Certificate in Law and Technology.

Participants without legal training are required to take Module 1 in order to qualify for the Graduate Certificate in Law and Technology.

Participants with legal training may be exempt from Module 1 as the course covers basic legal concepts.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

• Define what law is 
• Learn the three ways in which law interacts with technology 
• Understand the basic features of Singapore’s legal system
• Understand how the legal system and fundamental legal principles constrain or enable legal innovation and the adoption of technology 
• Differentiation of three themes: legal technology (LegalTech), technology law and impact of technology on law
• Constitutional structure and the process of making law
• The common law system and the relationship between case law and statute
• Hierarchy of courts and the doctrine of binding precedent
• The role of Organs of State in making, administering and enforcing law

WHO SHOULD ATTEND

• Paralegals
• Allied Legal Professionals (e.g. Legal Technologists)

PREREQUISITE

• A Bachelor's Degree; or
• A Diploma with at least 3 years of working experience.

ASSESSMENT

As part of the requirement for SkillsFuture Singapore, there will be an assessment conducted at the end of the course. The mode of assessment, which is up to the trainer’s discretion, may be an online quiz, a presentation or based on classroom exercises.

Participants are required to attain a minimum of 75% attendance and pass the associated assessment in order to receive a digital Certificate of Completion issued by Singapore Management University. 

SPEAKER

Alexander read law at the University of Cambridge on a President’s scholarship and Overseas Merit Scholarship. He subsequently obtained a Masters in International Legal Studies from Georgetown University Law Center in 2013. During his LLM year, Alexander was on the Dean’s List, graduated with Distinction, and received three CALI Awards for being the top student in three subjects.

Alexander first joined the Singapore Legal Service as a Deputy Public Prosecutor/ State Counsel with the Financial and Technology Crime Division of the Attorney-General’s Chambers. He prosecuted a wide variety of crimes including corruption, white collar crime, technology crime, maid abuse, intellectual property crime, and homicide. He has appeared in both the State Courts and High Court as lead counsel and assisted with cases in the Court of Appeal. Alexander also received specialised technology and cybercrime training as part of the AGC’s Technology Crime Unit. Notably, he led evidence before the Committee of Inquiry into the SingHealth Cyberattack in 2018.

In 2019, Alexander joined the newly formed Office of Transformation and Innovation (Judiciary) as Senior Assistant Director (now Deputy Director). In this capacity, Alexander has been at the forefront of legal innovation in Singapore, tackling issues ranging from legal strategy, policy and law reform, to promoting cultural change, and developing LegalTech products. He has taught law as an adjunct to undergraduates at the National University of Singapore and Singapore Management University, and has taken up a position as full-time Lecturer at the Singapore University of Social Sciences.