Maine Law has one of the top rated privacy law programs in the country.
The privacy field has exploded with opportunity. Around the world, in virtually every industry, protecting personal information has become a vital concern. Consequently, the need for qualified, highly trained attorneys with a heightened knowledge of privacy law and policy has never been greater.
At the University of Maine School of Law, students pursuing our Certificate in Information Privacy Law develop skills in a highly sought-after niche of the legal realm.
Privacy isn’t dead – it’s hiring.
Certificate in Information Privacy Law
Maine Law is one of a few law schools in the country offering a dedicated Certificate in Information Privacy Law. Students develop valuable legal skills and benefit from a unique partnership with the IAPP.
Course offerings
Maine Law offers over a dozen privacy-related courses. From survey courses like Information Privacy Law to more tailored seminars like AI Law & Policy, students will graduate with an advanced understanding of privacy law and related topics. A few popular classes are listed below.
Information Privacy Law- 3 credits
Information privacy is one of today’s critical legal subjects. The rapid pace of technology development has raised far-reaching questions about the future of privacy. The role of law is central to answering many of these questions. In the past few decades, many new laws have been passed, hundreds of cases have been decided, and fascinating new issues have arisen. This class is designed to provide you with an introduction to the study of information privacy law and to equip you with the broad issue-spotting and other practical skills needed to navigate the complex array of legal, business, and public policy issues in this area. Students in this class will be eligible to take the Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP) exam following completion of the course.
Information Privacy Law must be taken on a graded basis to receive the Certificate.
Cybersecurity Law- 3 credits
This course provides an introduction to cyber security law, with a focus on the nuts and bolts of how to plan for and deal with cyber incidents. It is designed to teach the student the basic skills needed to be able to assess an organization’s incident response readiness, to assist organizations with incident response planning and execution, and to deal with the technical and legal issues that typically come up during an incident as it is unfolding, as well as its aftermath, including data breach notification, regulatory investigations and enforcement and litigation. Actual case studies will be used. Several faculty members of USM’s Maine Cyber Security Cluster have collaborated with the Law School in designing this course and will participate in teaching this course. We will cover some of the key technology fundamentals that lawyers need to understand to be able to work effectively with cyber technical experts to assess privacy and cyber security risks and to analyze the legal implications arising from cyber incidents.
Internet Law- 2 credits
This course provides a broad survey of the numerous issues arising from the rapid growth of the Internet and other online communications. We will explore whether the application of existing legal rules to new technologies is appropriate or if completely novel approaches are necessary when dealing with problems that arise in cyberspace. Topics to be examined include jurisdiction, the domain name system, regulation of online service providers and digital content creators, freedom of speech, as well as privacy.
Privacy Law Faculty
Maine Law has a distinguished roster of full-time, adjunct, and visiting professors teaching privacy law and related topics. The school also has an impressive record when it comes to attorneys and experts instructing courses for the Information Privacy Summer Institute. Read more about our faculty and past Institute instructors below.
Adam Barea
Adjunct Professor, YouTube Legal Director
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litigation and risk mitigation as it pertains to third-party content
Information Privacy Summer Institute
Our annual Information Privacy Summer Institute offers a series of courses on critical and current topics taught by top experts in the field. Existing attorneys can earn CLE credit or venture into a growing and dynamic new practice area; current J.D. candidates can develop a valuable specialty while still in school.
Alumni
Maine Law’s alumni network spans top law firms, consultancies, in-house legal departments, & public interest organizations. Hear what just a few of our alumni from the privacy program have to say about their experience at Maine Law.
Shelbe Moore ’16
Cyber-risk Manager, Deloitte
“When you graduate from Maine Law, you step out the door with an incredible network of people, both at the Law School and in the broader community, who are ready to go out of their way to help you develop a unique career path designed to fit your passion.”
Samuel Adams ’21
Policy Counsel, AdTech, Future of Privacy Forum
“My experience at Maine Law prepared me for practicing privacy law by introducing me to important baseline privacy concepts across society, including law enforcement, litigation and discovery, privacy torts, international privacy, US state and federal privacy law, healthcare, and many more.”
Gabrielle
Schwartz ’23
AI Governance Research Lead, IAPP
“My time at Maine Law has provided me with robust skills and experiences, directly impacting my career trajectory. The various courses and experiential opportunities have set me up for success, along with a fabulous network of privacy leaders and specialists. .“
Student Life
Academics is only one part of the law school experience. With a rich offering of organizations, Maine Law students have the opportunity to enhance their education and experience outside of the classroom. There are many options for students interested in supplementing their academic focus in privacy law.