Short Course: Artificial Intelligence Regulation
Date: 8 Sessions: 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 Oct, 5, 12, 19 Nov 2026
Time: 13.00 - 15.00 (UK time)
Venue: Online
Course Details
This course examines the legal and regulatory frameworks shaping the development and deployment of AI. The course situates AI within concrete legal contexts, beginning with conceptual and critical foundations and an accessible introduction to how AI systems operate in legal and institutional settings. It offers comparative analysis of regulatory approaches, including a detailed examination of the EU AI Act, developments in countries around the world, and the role of soft law instruments, technical standards, and regulatory authorities. Participants will engage with the interaction between AI regulation and other legal domains such as data protection, product safety and competition law, with attention to enforcement challenges and emerging liability gaps.
The course also explores the application of AI across key domains of legal and societal relevance. It addresses the implications of AI in public decision-making and the rule of law, including its use in public administration, policing, and judicial processes, as well as its impact on dispute resolution and legal services. A dedicated session examines AI through a business and human rights lens, focusing on due diligence obligations and high-risk use cases. The course considers issues of innovation and economic regulation, including intellectual property, data governance, and the future of work, as well as the use of AI in high-risk and global contexts such as armed conflict, security, and environmental governance.
Indicative Course Topics:
- Foundations: Conceptual and Critical Perspectives: Theory and Practice
- Technology and AI in Legal Contexts
- Global AI Governance: Regulatory Frameworks and Comparative Approaches
- AI in Public Decision-Making and the Rule of Law
- AI, Business, and Human Rights: Due Diligence and Corporate Responsibility
- AI, Innovation, and Economic Regulation
- AI in High-Risk and Global Contexts: Security, Conflict, and Environment
- The Future of AI Regulation
Course leader
Dr. Irene Pietropaoli, Senior Research Fellow in Business & Human Rights and Director of the Business and Human Rights Forum
Who is the course for?
The course would be beneficial for legal practitioners, students, law academics and representatives of governments, civil society organisations and business with a keen interest in AI.
Course format
The virtual course format will consist of a series of 8 sessions in which live (synchronous) teaching is offered via Zoom. Participants will be able to interact with the tutors and amongst themselves on screen.
Testimonials from past attendees at our AI courses
"It was very well run and interesting; I feel like I understand this difficult field better. Thank you to all organizers and tutors!"
"Thanks for having me this opportunity. It was great pleasure to learn new things in law, networking and skills building."
"Very happy with this course, I have learned a lot. Thank you!"
Training scholarships
We are delighted to be able to offer scholarships designed to enable individuals from communities currently under-represented in the legal field to access our world-class courses and benefit from unparalleled learning experiences.
Scholarships are aimed at 3 categories: individuals from communities and backgrounds that are under-represented in the legal field in the UK and abroad; individuals who have recently received a needs-based bursary from their university or further-education college and representatives from Small Charities, NGOs, and Community-Based Organisations.
Applications for training scholarships must be received at least six weeks ahead of the course start date (20 August 2026). Applications must be made via the online form and applications received via any other means will not be considered.
Find out more and apply for a scholarship
