Technology Law (or ‘Tech Law’ as it’s sometimes known) is the fastest growing branch of the legal profession. It’s the area of law responsible for the collection, storage and protection of digital information as well as advising on emerging areas of law like blockchain and cryptocurrencies . As technology continues to disrupt the working world, this is becoming an increasingly critical area for legal professionals to understand, particularly in light of recent high-profile data breaches.
So why learn Technology Law? Technology Law helps to keep people, and their information, safe. Tech lawyers protect against hackers, fraudulent online activity, poor data storage and corporate negligence. They’re also answering some of society’s biggest questions: what are the ethics of artificial intelligence? How will robots and humans co-exist in the workplace? Who owns intangible property and digital information? What is fake news?
As technology evolves, the law needs to adapt and keep up. RMIT Online is a great place to start learning about Tech Law.
Technology Law is a relatively new field, at least compared to torts and crime, but it is becoming increasingly important as new tech emerges.
It’s in the nature of law to lag behind innovation (it’s hard to legislate on what doesn’t exist yet), but the idea behind Technology Law is to close that gap as much as possible – to regulate the tech industry, control emerging technologies, and make the digital world safer for everyone. Technology law grapples with some of the modern world’s most challenging problems: data privacy, data ownership, deep fake technology, cybersecurity and corporate responsibility.
Technology Law touches on a number of different fields:
There are plenty of Technology Law career avenues, depending on your goals and experience. If you’re using Technology Law to supplement your existing legal degree, you could find work in a private firm that specialises in Tech Law. If you’re studying Technology Law in order to upskill, you can jump into Marketing, Media, IT Development or Data Science.
Cyber attacks and data breaches can cost firms billions of dollars. With so much money at stake, there are plenty of career opportunities for legal professionals skilled up in emerging technologies. Banks, insurance companies, government agencies and commercial firms all have their own compliance and risk departments – and they all need good in-house lawyers.
Here are just a few Technology Law careers:
Technology Law is one of the fastest growing branches of the legal profession. More and more firms, private companies and government agencies are looking for qualified Technology Law experts. It’s a career that will help shape the future of digital regulation.
According to Indeed, the average salary for a lawyer in Australia is $115,000. With experience, and the ability to specialise, that figure can rise substantially. There’s also excellent job growth in the legal field, with SEEK projecting an increase of 20% over the next 5 years.
A qualification in Technology Law doesn’t mean you have to work in a law firm. Many graduates go to work for charities, local governments, regulating bodies or media organisations, often as legal consultants or risk management experts. It’s a critical, well-rounded course.
Many areas of law are considered traditional, stodgy and slow to change, but not Technology Law. It’s constantly evolving to keep up with the tech industry. Universities are beginning to invest more in Technology Law training, and businesses are increasingly on the lookout for Tech Law experts.
There’s a lot of job satisfaction in Technology Law. You’re essentially helping protect people from the future: from companies who mishandle personal data, from hackers and fake news, from technologies that haven’t even been invented yet. It’s the cutting edge of legal regulation.
Why learn Technology Law? Having a background in legal tech opens your options. You can work for a specialist Tech Law firm, a data consultancy, a media outlet or a local charity. There are thousands of positions on SEEK, with a very healthy median salary, and the field should only continue to grow over the next five years. A Tech Law qualification touches on everything from medical negligence and cybercrime to space law. The sky’s literally the limit.
Here are just a few Technology Law careers you might consider:
Our learning content is purpose built for online study and our curriculum is divided into easy-to-follow units. Each unit combines interactive webinars, 1-on-1 tutorials, group work and practical tasks. The ultimate goal is to give you the skills you need for a career in Technology Law.
Here’s a taste of what you’ll need:
Want to learn Technology Law? This is the best place to start. Read as much as you can. Ask questions. Contact one of our RMIT Online course counsellors.
Ready to learn Technology Law? You’ve come to the right place. RMIT Online offers a range of certifications and short courses, depending on your career goals and experience. You can learn Tech Law related study options, online, at your own pace, and get support from expert industry mentors.
The beauty of Technology Law is that it touches on dozens of different fields – from Machine Learning and Data Science to Privacy Management and Cyber Security. There’s always something new to learn. You can check out our related courses below.
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RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business.
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