Having recently graduated with a Master of Laws (LLM) in Information Technology Law, I thought it would be apt to share more about how I came to the decision to pursue the LLM and to reflect on the journey over the past two years.
Why Study for an LLM?
Having spent about eight years in the workforce prior to enrolling, I had developed a fairly clear sense of where the gaps in my knowledge lay and how an LLM could help to address them. As a red teamer or penetration tester, a poor understanding of the Computer Misuse Act and contract law can easily lead to trouble if one oversteps the boundaries of an engagement. As a vulnerability researcher, inadequate knowledge of copyright law and software licence agreements can similarly result in legal exposure. As a cyber forensic analyst, a solid understanding of evidence law is important to ensure that evidence is admissible in court. As a software developer or architect, familiarity with data protection and privacy laws can inform better design decisions that pay dividends in the long run. And as an employee in a large technology company, understanding intermediary liability helps explain why companies may still be subject to foreign laws and why Trust and Safety teams are necessary. There are, in my view, many domains of IT law that are directly relevant to various roles in cybersecurity.
By contrast, some peers choose to pursue a Master of Computing, an MBA, or a Master’s degree in statistics or data science. For me, a Master of Computing was less attractive, as I had already completed a number of graduate-level cybersecurity modules during my final year at NUS and subsequently accumulated a range of industry certifications. An MBA held little appeal, as I have no particular interest in business. A Master’s in statistics or data science felt relatively niche and less broadly applicable. Moreover, I felt that data science is comparatively easier to pick up through short online courses and self-study, whereas law is a discipline that benefits far more from structured, formal education. For these reasons, an LLM in IT law seemed the most appropriate choice.
Being in my early thirties also felt like an opportune time. I had accumulated enough work experience to understand what I needed, while still being young enough to keep pace with my peers and without having too many personal or family commitments.
Choice of School
There are relatively few universities willing to accept students without a Bachelor of Laws into their LLM programmes, which significantly narrowed my options. The need to continue working full time also meant that I had to find a programme that could be pursued on a part-time basis. The University of Edinburgh satisfied both of these requirements. In addition, studying at a UK university meant exposure to common law principles applicable in Singapore, as well as in-depth coverage of the GDPR, which has far greater practical impact than most other data protection regimes.
A close contender was Singapore Management University (SMU). However, its IT law programme focused heavily on AI law and ethics, blockchain, and fintech topics such as DeFi and NFTs, and also included compulsory modules like real estate law, which did not align with my interests. I was looking for a more traditional, black-letter law education, and for that reason, Edinburgh ultimately became my choice.
Preparing for Law School
Starting law school can be intimidating, particularly when some classmates have four-year law degrees, others have years of legal practice, and still others are younger or studying full time with far more time to devote to their studies. More than six months before formally enrolling, I began preparing by purchasing used contract law and tort law textbooks from Carousell. The practice questions and answer keys were invaluable in testing my understanding, and in the beginning I often had to read the same chapters multiple times to grasp the nuances.
There is no shortage of affordable law textbooks in Singapore. There are plenty of rich kids who flunk out of law school and sell off their textbooks for cheap. I also heard that the Singapore Academy of Law gives credits to its members yearly. Some enterprising members would use these credits to buy law textbooks and sell them cheaply to cash out the credits.
Getting through Law School
The feedback received on essays is critically important, as it is easy to be blind to the weaknesses in one’s own writing. During my first year, I was consistently scoring in the 60s. After working on clearer signposting and more rigorous referencing, I managed to raise my grades into the 70s and eventually just scraped a distinction.
Being strategic also matters. I fumbled a two-part question early in my first year and subsequently made a conscious decision to avoid that style of question for the remainder of the programme. Legal writing is very much a work in progress, and even now my writing sometimes feels simplistic when compared to that of others. That said, I firmly believe that with the right aptitude, sustained effort, and a willingness to take feedback seriously, it is entirely possible to perform well in law school.