Next Semester Courses?

Here is a quick record of what I'd like to take in the next semester - the final semester:

Information: Control and Power

Managing Intellectual Property

International Commercial Arbitration

Details of these courses contents can be found here: http://www.law.ed.ac.uk/teaching/online_distance_learning/llm_degrees/innovation_technology_and_the_law/modules

Post Midterm. Semester 1

This is week 6 of the  12week semester. I have turned in papers for 2 classes, and almost done with final argument for the IIP class. 4 more sessions left.

This has so far been a great blessing and experience intellectually and emotionally. Emotionally because it keeps my mind off of negative depressing thoughts.

The greatest challenge in this program has been Reading. I am a slow reader. I started reading full words as early as 2 years of age. But somewhere I became a word reader. My mind loses concentration on the meaning of a sentence and I just try hard to focus and begin to read words alone. This has helped me improve my note-taking. The amount of intense sheer readings per class takes up a lot of time.

There was no way I could have taken a fulltime load with a regular life and a regular full time job. I like to be in a frame of mind when I study. I am learning how to improve my reading and concentration and how to keep both in synch over long periods of time. I underestimate time. Suddenly I need breaks every hour.

Some days its hard to get in the mood to study. Sometimes I want to think about other things, other subjects of interest. Sometimes I am completely unmotivated to make the efforts to begin study and lose interest. But I push myself because I have no good excuse to not to do so. What keeps me going is the confidence that I am smart enough to do it, that I have the opportunity to pursue this , and that time will pass anyways and if I keep doing what I'm doing I will one day have successfully completed the program and achieved an LLM. One year already passed since mamma, another year will pass quickly too. This program is 24weeks long with 2midterm break weeks. 6weeks have already passed. I'm 1/4th across this journey, and planning to apply for the next PhD lap 2014.

Cloud Governance - 20% Assignment

For the 'Information Technology Law' class, I have chose the option of writing a 2,000 word essay on :
"Cloudy with a chance of regulation: the governance of cloud computing" , Due in October, 2013.

I need to delineate the topic and cover 1 subtopic in detail with much examples. 

Cloud Computing Governance:

• Cloud Architecture: Applications Code, Hardware Infrastructure, and Security Layer
• Service Model: Licensing models, Legitimacy of licensing models, SLAs, SLM
• Compliance: Policy Management, Risk Assessment, Compliance Resource Management

upon conducting a skimming overview of a few related articles, the following appear to be relevant:

1. Data Privacy Issues
2. Data Control, Custody, and Possession definitions
3. Export Control Issues
4. Compliance Issues and Penalty

I will be addressing these 3 legal perspective in the EU, UK, and Canada and US context.

• Expound on definitions of each, administering bodies (state and non-state)
• Highlight specific precedent examples
• Surface contending laws and legislation based on jurisdictional interpretation.
• Introduce other relevant areas: Compliance, SLM, Organizational governance and framework development

The Warm Up - Pre Session

• What is law?

Law is a set of rules defined or derived aimed at rendering justice and enforced over all under a jurisdiction by authorized governing bodies

• What does law do?

Law either encourages or discourages a specific type of behavior. It is designed to encourage the type of behavior deemed as beneficial for the larger society or interest group. Ideally, it should always create a justice society.

• Where does law come from?

Depending on the jurisdiction, law comes from kings, queens, or authorized groups and individuals or general public. It depends on the legal system of the nation, and national governance structure.

Escript Ready

Today I was granted access to eScript. I registered 3 modules for September, Corporate Compliance, International IP Law, and Taxation. I must complete a total of 180 credit hours comprising of 6 core and 2 elective modules in total.

eScript is an online collaboration and learning delivery platform for students in Distance Learning Program. Now, I need to go through the necessary resources published on this website to help prepare students familiarize themselves with the legal body of knowledge.

What I need to focus is a study method and a intentful and tactful reading techniques. I believe, my reading habit and style is the biggest cause of creating disinterest in reading effort. I am too slow in my reading.

The semester session starts on September 16, 2013. There is plenty of time to get upto speed!

LLM - Woaaah!

Yesterday, I finally received an acceptance back into the LLM program at The University of Edinburgh. I applied for the 1 year, LLM in Innovation, and IT. I had been thinking about law school since 2007.

I even started preparing for LSATs in the US, but things were so unsettling. In the UAE in 2010, I applied for LLM  to the University of Edinburgh finally and was accepted. But, father passed away and I could not continue. I switched to the online program, but dropped out of it also because of new business commitments.

Finally, in Canada I had plenty of time, but no schools would take students middle of the year. So I decided to see if I continue the LLM online program with the University of Edinburgh, and Alhamdulilah, I got accepted for the Sept 2013 intake! Two months away!

I am nervous as to how far I will get in this pursuit this time. Ideally, I would have loved to be able to start a graduate degree program in Canada with a Canadian university, but the earliest I can do that would be Sept 2014. I had entered the country too late to start by Sept 2013. In rush of things, as I normally do, I applied for the 1 year program hoping that I can quickly achieve the goal in the shortest amount of time and utilizing the time till Sept 2014 in the best way possible. And if I were to chose to continue to a PhD in Canada, I could still apply in the next 4 months and be able to do so right after finishing my LLM. There could be a month or two overlapping.

So, I am also nervous because in a way I rushed. My habit of quickly achieving things has taken a toll on me lately and usually overburdens me. But, in the last 7 months, I have not seen any job, and so what can I say about the next 10 or 12 months? If Allah wills it could turn out to be a good utilization of my time and a great decision.

Had my recommending instructor and the admissions counselors at The University of Edinburgh been more responsive, I would have been able to meet the deadline for scholarship. But, I just missed it, and I would like to make a case to be able to secure one. I pray to Allah, that He makes it happen. Because, I do not have any money, and I have made it known to them that I will need a payment plan as I continue to finish my studies.

In this blog, I shall try to document my journey through this program. I may one day find it insightful in the future, or those after me who might be interested in my life can find a part of me here speaking to them directly and without many barriers.