Law of Autonomous Vehicles (Shenai) - online
Faculty
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| Nolan Shenai Lecturer in Law nolan.g.shenai@gmail.com |
Additional Information
Skills Training
Oral Presentations
Team Projects
Expository Writing
Other Professional Skills:
Grading
10% Participation,
90% Paper,
Other (Subject to reevaluation based on enrollment, the class will have three (3) papers, each 33 1/3% of your grade. )
No
Class meets online.
Course Continuity
Students are encouraged to stay home if you are ill or experience flu-like symptoms. If you miss a class for any reason, it is still your responsibility to make up the work missed.
I offer the following to students who miss class due to illness:
- Class sessions are regularly recorded. If you are absent due to illness or some other unavoidable circumstance, email me and I can send you an email with instructions for accessing the recording for the class session(s) you missed.
Meeting Times/Location
W 8:00PM - 9:50PM
Online
Category
Upper-Level
Credits
2.0
This course will examine the legal and ethical considerations surrounding the development, testing and deployment of autonomous vehicles (AVs). In the first part of the course, we will examine the legal and philosophical theory behind the development of AVs, including the ethical underpinnings of developing code and artificial intelligence/machine learning algorithms to substitute human judgment in split-second decisions. We will also explore more deeply the legal implications of such decisions, including examining how these decisions interact with tort and criminal law.
In the next part of the course, we will focus on the practical effects of testing, commercialization and deployment of AVs. We will examine how AVs operate vis-a-vis current regulations that were not drafted with AVs in mind, including for example, how AVs interact with NHTSA's 'make inoperative' regulation. Further, we will explore how AVs are reframing traditional breakdowns of liability between automobile manufacturers, vehicle component manufacturers, drivers, insurers, and AV companies. In this section, we will also focus on the other areas of law - often overlooked - that AVs touch, including privacy, cross-border issues, antitrust, and environmental laws.
In the final part of the course, we will explore how widespread AV adoption could affect traditional industry. As AVs are still in their 'proof of concept' phase, the focus around AVs is on how AVs will revolutionize mobility, including public transportation infrastructure. However, AVs could potentially have a deep and lasting effect on industries not initially linearly connected to AVs, such as real estate, goods movement, health care and others. This portion of the course will also cover practice tips to assist new lawyers practicing in nascent areas of the law, especially focused on the importance of being able to 'see around the corner.'
Evaluation:
Subject to reevaluation based on class size and engagement, your performance in this course will be based on three 5-7 page papers
Business and Corporate Law Learning outcomes: Demonstrate a core understanding of business and corporate law; Perform legal analysis in the context of business and corporate law; Communicate effectively on topics related to business and corporate law; Demonstrate an understanding of the interconnection between the world of business and finance and that of business and corporate law, and how they affect other areas of law and society.
International Corporate and Trade Law
Intellectual Property and Technology Law Learning outcomes: Demonstrate a core understanding of intellectual property law; Perform legal analysis in the context of intellectual property law; Communicate effectively on topics related to intellectual property; Demonstrate an understanding of the interconnection between technology and intellectual property, and how they affect other areas of law and society.
Administrative and Regulatory Law Learning outcomes: Demonstrate a core understanding of administrative and regulatory law and the administrative process, including the role of statutory authorization and work of administrative agencies; Perform legal analysis in the context of administrative and regulatory law; Communicate effectively on topics related to administrative and regulatory law; Demonstrate an understanding of the role administrative and regulatory law play in our legal system and in society as a whole.