Study law at TalTech in Estonia - one of the world’s most digitised nations - and prosper as a highly qualified lawyer providing profound legal advice regarding the challenges of today’s technology driven society in business, ICT, intellectual property or cybersecurity.
Our law programme:
- The Programme gives you a thorough understanding of the connections between law and technology. You will learn to discuss the issues of the EU digital market, regulating artificial intelligence and cyber security.
- After graduating you can work as law and tech lawyer in the companiesor public offices, you will be able to master the legal challenges of a rapidly changing and increasingly technologically sophisticated society.
- Learning in a multi-cultural environment is guided by high-qualified academics with PhDs and experienced professionals from all around the world.
Introduction
Our law programme enables you to specialise in law and technology. The Law and Technology specialisation covers the key areas of law related to artificial intelligence, data protection, cyber security and intellectual property. This specialisation will enable graduates to navigate the legal framework surrounding new technologies in their careers.
Key Features
Study Programme
- Degree: Master of Arts in Law (MA)
- Duration: 2 years
- Faculty: School of Business and Governance
- Study Load: 120 ECTS (view curriculum)
- Mode of Study: Full-time study
Study Information
- Language: English (view English language requirements)
- Tuition Fee: €3600 per year for EU/EEA and non-EU citizens
- Scholarships: Different options available
- Admission: General admission guidelines
Admissions
Students for this study programme are admitted based on the admission threshold. By the motivation letter and interview, candidate’s English, skills of expression, analysing and argumentation are evaluated. The maximum combined score for the online application (CV), motivation letter and interview is 10 points. The online application form in DreamApply is being assessed as your CV, therefore please include there your educational and professional experience in details. An applicant who receives the minimum of 5 points is admitted.
Please find the programme specific admission requirements below:
In order to qualify for the studies in Tallinn University of Technology an applicant has to have at least 60% of the highest possible CGPA.
If you come from another programme than law then you must have passed at least 36 ECT law courses. You can take these courses also from the TalTech bachelor’s law programme. We suggest the following courses.
In autumn semester:
- MOA3020 Foundations of Law and Legal Theory
- MOE3021 Legal Syllogism and Introduction to the General Part of Civil Law
- MOR3040 Public International Law
- MOA3031 Comparative Constitutional Law in a Digital Society
In spring semester:
- HOL6010 European Union Law
- MOA3030 Human Rights Law in a Digital Society
- MOL3010 Foundations of European Contract Law
In order to apply, a candidate is required to upload a Test-taker Score Report of the GRE General Test to the DreamApply application system. The test has to be completed but there is no threshold score required for this programme.
This is a prerequisite for qualifying and has to be fulfilled latest by the application deadline.
Candidates who have obtained a full Bachelor's degree in EU, EFTA or OECD member state are waived from the GRE requirement.
Please see more information about our GRE General Test requirement here, including the exact eligibility criteria for being exempted from this prerequisite and how to order the test result electronically to TalTech.
Motivation letter must consist the profound answers to the following questions (max 300 words per question):
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Explain your interest in law. Describe your professional goals and explain how the degree programme you are applying for supports your professional profile. Explain why you are specifically interested in Law and Technology. (0-2 points)
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Describe your previous education how does your academic background fit to the degree program you are applying for? Evaluate your previous knowledge and skills gathered during your previous education, how they would be useful in your studies in the law programme. (0-2 points)
NB! It is important to properly cite and reference any sources used in your motivation letter (quotations, publications, ideas etc. that are not your own). Additionally, AI-generated text is not acceptable as the purpose of the motivation letter is to show the applicant’s genuine motivation. Neglecting the aforementioned principles will result in the disqualification of your application.
Aspects evaluated during the interview:
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What is the interest of the candidate in the field of law? What area interests the candidate most and why? How candidate sees his/her future professional career? Why candidate has decided to study at the Tallinn University of Technology? Why candidate finds the programme offered attractive? Why candidate believes that he/she is the right person for this programme? (0-2 points)
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What is the knowledge of the candidate about the problems concerning law? (0-2 points)
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What does candidate know about the role of the lawyer and the professional ethics/moral of the lawyer? (0-2 points)
Duration of the interview is 15-30 minutes.
Curriculum overview
Law and Technology – provides you profound knowledge and skills in regulating and applying the norms related to different fields of technology such as intellectual property, cyber security and artificial intelligence.
- General Courses (18 ECTS) - covers compulsory courses such as Human Rights, Ethics and Technology, Artificial Intelligence and Law, Entrepreneurship and Business Planning.
- Legal Theory, EU and International Law (24 ECTS) – covers compulsory courses such as Legal Research Methodology, Selected Actual Topics from European Union Personal Data Protection Law, Case Studies of EU Internal Market and Competition Law, EU and Digital Technologies.
- Special Studies Compulsory Courses (18 ECTS) – covers courses such as Cyber Security and Law, Legal Protection of Information Technology Products, Software and Database, Digital Intellectual Property and Law.
- Internship (6 ECTS) – can be either a legal internship or participation in moot court competition or taking the Team-work Project course.
- Special studies optional courses (18 ECTS) – covers courses such as Legal Framework of e-Governance, Estonian Language and Culture, Intellectual Property and Competition Law, Medical Law, Rights, Obligations and Liability of Actors on the Internet, Legal Aspects of Cyber Investigations, Legal Aspects of Fintech, Case Studies of International Tax Law in the Area of Digital Economy, Legal Aspects of Digital Business, Enterpreneurship Project.
- Free choice courses (6 ECTS) – students can choose from a wide variety of courses offered at the university.
- Graduation thesis (30 ECTS) – individual legal research on a topic chosen by the student.
Compulsory courses
Elective courses
Compulsory courses
- Graduation thesis (30 ECTS) – individual legal research on a topic chosen by the student.
Elective courses
Courses are delivered by profound experts of law and technology from Estonia and all around the world, including:
- Professor Tanel Kerikmäe, who has solid experience in assessing legal and ethical risks of different ecosystems and capacity building, including artificial intelligence.
- Professor Thomas Hoffmann's, whose research focuses on comparative private law, especially insolvency law, private international law, contracts in digital environments and consumer law. He provides comprehensive research on Estonian, German and international law to various stakeholders within numerous EC tenders.
- Adjunct professor Katrin Nyman-Metcalf, who specialises primarily in the area of information and communication technology law including freedom of expression, as well as e-governance.
- Adjunct professor Ondrej Hamulak, who focuses his research on the relations and interactions between EU law and national law, the theoretical impact of membership in the EU on the state sovereignty and the legitimacy and rule of law within the EU, in particular system of protection of fundamental rights at supranational level.
WHY STUDY LAW IN TALTECH?
- TalTech, a technological university at the forefront of developing the technologies of tomorrow, provides inside knowledge on the challenges and solutions of legally regulating new technologies.
- Our department’s main research areas are: artificial intelligence & law, e-governance, international cyber diplomacy, EU law, the digital single market and intellectual property. Our Estonian partners are ministries, Estonian Lawyers Association, Estonian Prosecutor’s Office, Estonian Bar Association. Partners abroad include the European Commission, Centre for International Legal Studies, European Law Faculties Association, European Patent Office, Aalto University, Nottingham Law School, Caucasus Law School, University of Essex, University of Dresden, and National University of Singapore.
- Upon graduation, you will be an expert in law and technology or legal counselling for digital-oriented businesses. Our research-based teaching provides knowledge and skills to pursue doctoral studies.
- Small groups encourage student-led teaching and classroom discussions. The international classroom provides insight regarding different cultures and legal regulations.
- Õigus, our student association helps students with academic and personal matters, also organises events and cooperates with different organisations.
- Partaking in a legal internship puts into practice the skills gained at the university and provides the additional legal experience.
- The Erasmus Student Exchange Program and participation in international moot court competitions further expands your international practice.
Future Career
The demand for lawyers specialising in technology law is on the rise. The digital world is developing at a rapid pace and the regulation of information technology and intellectual property or digital market is becoming increasingly more important. Consequently, seize the opportunity to become a modern, technologically savvy lawyer - by choosing our law programme, technological changes will bring you new opportunities. After graduating, your knowledge will enable you to contribute to the discussions on the development of the legal frameworks surrounding new technologies. Do not be a bystander. Be a part of the change!
Our graduates are qualified work in EU and international organisations and institutions, international companies and different law offices.
Prominent alumni
- Kerli Veski is an Estonian diplomat and Director General of Law Department in Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
- Paula-Mai Sepp, adviser in the Ministry of Justice on the field of public e-services and IT.
- Sandra Särav, Deputy Secretary General for Business and Consumer Environment, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications for Estonia.
- Bogdan Kelichavyi is the newly elected mayor of Kopychyntsi, in the western Ternopil region, Ukraine.
What students say?
After my studies at Tallinn Law School, I joined the Business Security and Legal Compliance team in an international telecommunications company, Tele2, and undertook the challenges of working as an in-house lawyer. For a lawyer, working in the rapidly changing telecom industry offers a wide range of challenges, both exciting and demanding, to tackle on a daily basis, for which the studies in Tallinn Law School has prepared me well. The future seems bright with many interesting opportunities ahead!
I studied both bachelor and master degrees of law in Tallinn Law School (TLS), Tallinn University of Technology. I chose to study in Tallinn because of the programme emphasising international and European Union law as well as human rights, which I have always felt passionate about. My decision was supported by the fact that no university in Finland provided similar kind of internationally orientated legal education in English. I truly enjoyed my studies at TLS. Based on my own personal interests I wrote my master thesis on human rights in health care, which turned out to be a gold mine for my career. During the thesis project I had plenty of great discussions with my supervisor, Professor Katrin Nyman-Metcalf who, together with the other members of TLS’s academic staff, also encouraged me to expand my research to a doctoral level. Following their advices as well as my own academic desires, after graduating Master in Arts in Law I enrolled to University of Helsinki as a Ph.D. Candidate of law.
The reason I came to study in the Law programme is that it is offered in Estonia and the country is renowned for its advanced e-governance systems and start-ups. Secondly, the programme is offered at technical university, so what would be a better place to study law and technology! The programme has lived up to my expectations – we have had many exciting courses such as digital evidence, cyber security and a course on how to build start-ups, all this through the prism of law, which gives the programme a stimulating touch of interdisciplinarity.
Does it suit me?
If you:
- like to explore the impact of disruptive innovations on global communities;
- would like to get an excellent job offer in a transnational corporation, international organisation or the public sector;
- are eager to study in an English-speaking environment;
- seek a flexible schedule.
Then our Law programme is the right programme for you!
Ask Us
TalTech international admissions office
TalTech international admissions office provides general advice to prospective Bachelor’s and Master’s degree applicants and their advisers about applying to and studying at TalTech.
Contact us via study@taltech.ee.
Student counsellor at School of Business and Governance
Student counsellor at the School of Business and Governance can help you with questions about the study programme.
Piret Levertand
(+372) 620 3940
piret.levertand@taltech.ee