100 Free Law Online Courses You Can Take in 2022 - Startups Compliance Newsletter

As a lawyer, investor or entrepreneur, having knowledge of the law as it relates to your industry and specific business model is crucial. Many businesses succeed or fail simply by being able (or not) to manoeuvre the complex regulations that apply to them. Those that do so successfully often thrive, while those that don't often face severe problems that can shut down the business or even sometimes get their founders or advisors in trouble in their personal capacities. For an investor, understanding the legal landscape will be essential to be able to understand how viable a startup is and what the risks are if you choose to make an investment.

Two years ago, after I posted about completing a course from the World Intellectual Property Foundation, I got several inquiries about finding such courses, and so I decided to search for and publish informative and credible courses that were free to take. That list comprised of 40 courses. Last year, I expanded the list to 75 and this year, I've expanded it further to 100.

In this list, you'll find free courses in technology law, business law, data protection, health law, environmental law, project finance and several other areas, all delivered by renowned organisations ranging from global top universities to even national central banks and the IMF.

All of them are free to access and some offer certificates for free or with scholarships/financial aid.

Technology Law Courses

1.     AI and Law – Lund University – Coursera

2.     AI for Legal Professionals (I): Law and Policy - National Chiao Tung University (NCTU) – FutureLearn

3.    AI for Legal Professionals (II): Tools for Lawyers - National Chiao Tung University (NCTU) – FutureLearn

4.    Bioethics: The Law, Medicine, and Ethics of Reproductive Technologies and Genetics – Harvard University – EdX

5.     Computer Science for Lawyers – Harvard – EdX

6.     Introduction to Innovation and Technology in Legal Services - The University of Law – FutureLearn

7.    The Laws of Digital Data, Content and Artificial Intelligence (AI) – The University of Law – FutureLearn

  Fintech Law Courses

1.    FinTech Disruptive Innovation: Implications for Society – Hong Kong University of Science and Technology – Coursera

2.    FinTech Foundations and Overview – Hong Kong University of Science and Technology – Coursera

3.    FinTech Law and Policy – Duke University – Coursera

4.    FinTech Risk Management – Hong Kong University of Science and Technology – Coursera

5.    FinTech Security and Regulation (RegTech) – Hong Kong University of Science and Technology – Coursera

Privacy/Data Protection Courses

1.  Data Ethics, AI and Responsible Innovation - The University of Edinburgh – Coursera

2.  Data Ethics: Managing Your Private Customer Data – LinkedIn Learning

3.  Data Privacy Fundamentals - Northeastern University – Coursera

4.  GDPR Compliance: Essential Training – LinkedIn Learning

5.   Introduction to GDPR: General Data Protection Regulation – University College, London – FutureLearn

6.  Introduction to Privacy - Infosec - Coursera

7.  Privacy In Europe - EIT Digital - Coursera

8.  Privacy in the USA - EIT Digital - Coursera

9.  Privacy in the Western World - EIT Digital - Coursera

10. Privacy Law and Data Protection - University of Pennsylvania – Coursera

11. Privacy Law and HIPAA - University of Pennsylvania – Coursera

12. Protecting Health Data in the Modern Age: Getting to Grips with the GDPR - University of Groningen – FutureLearn

13. Understanding the GDPR - University of Groningen – FutureLearn

Intellectual Property Courses

1.    Copyright Law - University of Pennsylvania – Coursera

2.    Copyright Law – University of Pennsylvania – Coursera

3.    Copyright Law in the Music Business – Berklee College of Music – Coursera

4.    DL-101 General Course on Intellectual Property – World Intellectual Property Organization

5.    Intellectual Property (Series of 4 courses)

6.    Intellectual Property in the Healthcare Industry - University of Pennsylvania – Coursera

7.    Intellectual Property Law and Policy: Part 1 - University of Pennsylvania – EdX

8.    Intellectual Property Law and Policy: Part 2 - University of Pennsylvania – EdX

9.    Intellectual Property Law in Digital Age - Saint Petersburg State University – Coursera

10. Intellectual Property Rights: A Management Perspective - Indian Institute of Management Bangalore – EdX

11. Introduction to Intellectual Property – University of Pennsylvania – Coursera

12. Patent Law – University of Pennsylvania – Coursera

13. Protecting Business Innovations via Copyright- The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology HKUST - Coursera

14. Protecting Business Innovations via Patent - The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology HKUST – Coursera

15. Protecting Business Innovations via Patent - The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology HKUST - Coursera

16. Protecting Business Innovations via Trademark - The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology HKUST - Coursera

17. Trademark Law – University of Pennsylvania – Coursera

  Business/Finance Law Courses

1.  American Contract Law I - Yale University – Coursera

2.  Contract Law: From Trust to Promise to Contract – Harvard University – EdX

3.  Corporate & Commercial Law I: Contracts & Employment Law - University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign – Coursera

4.  Corporate & Commercial Law II: Business Forms, Financing & Governmental Regulation - University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign – Coursera

5.   Data Privacy Awareness – Rolls Royce – EdX

6.  European Business Law: Competing in Europe - Lund University - Coursera

7.  European Business Law: Doing Business in Europe - Lund University - Coursera

8.  European Business Law: Understanding the Fundamentals - Lund University - Coursera

9.  Financial Regulation: From the Global Financial Crisis to Fintech and the COVID Pandemic – MIT – EdX

10. Foundations of Central Bank Law - International Monetary Fund – Coursera

11. Infrastructure Development, PPPs and Regulation - Indian Institute of Management Bangalore - EdX

12. Introduction to Corporate Finance – Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania - Coursera

13. Mergers and Acquisitions: Structuring the Deal – New York Institute of Finance – FutureLearn

14. Navigating Legal & Commercial Aspects of Sports - Hamad Bin Khalifa University - EdX

15. Project Finance: Funding Projects Successfully - Delft University of Technology – EdX

16. Project Finance: Funding Projects Successfully - Delft University of Technology - EdX

17. Property and Liability: An Introduction to Law and Economics - Wesleyan University - Coursera

18. State, Law and the Economy - The University of Hong Kong - EdX

19. The EU and Human Rights - KU Leuven - EdX

20. Trade Based Money Laundering - State Bank of India – EdX

21. Wiretaps to Big Data: Privacy and Surveillance in the Age of Interconnection – Cornell University – EdX

 Public/Constitutional Law Courses

1.  Basic Japanese Civil Law – Tokyo Tech - EdX

2.  Chemerinsky on Constitutional Law – Individual Rights and Liberties (Coursera)

3.  Comparative Judicial Systems - Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II – EdX

4.  Constitutional Interpretation – Princeton University – EdX

5.  Introduction to English Common Law – University of London

 International Law Courses

1.  International Investment Law - Université catholique de Louvain – EdX

2.  International Labour Law - Saint Petersburg State University - Coursera

3.  International Law - Université catholique de Louvain – EdX

4.  International Law in Action: A Guide to the International Courts and Tribunals in The Hague - Universiteit Leiden – Coursera

5.  International Law In Action: Investigating and Prosecuting International Crimes - Universiteit Leiden – Coursera

6.  International Law in Action: the Arbitration of International Disputes - Universiteit Leiden – Coursera

7.  International Water Law - University of Geneva – Coursera

8.  Internet Giants: The Law and Economics of Media Platforms – The University of Chicago – Coursera

9.  Introduction to International Criminal Law (Cape Western Reserve University) – Coursera

10. Rethinking International Tax Law – Universiteit Leiden

Human Rights Law Courses

1.  Asylum and Refugee Law - Université catholique de Louvain – EdX

2.  Children's Human Rights - An Interdisciplinary Introduction (Universite de Geneve) – Coursera

3.  Global Business and Human Rights - Zurich University of Applied Sciences – EdX

4.  Human Rights for Open Societies - Utrecht University - Coursera

5.  International Human Rights Law - Université catholique de Louvain - EdX

6.  International Humanitarian Law - Université catholique de Louvain – EdX

7.  International Humanitarian Law in Theory and Practice - Universiteit Leiden – Coursera

8.  Open Justice - New York University - EdX

Healthcare/Environmental Law Courses

1.  Global Health: An Interdisciplinary Overview - University of Geneva - Coursera

2.  Healthcare Law (Series of 4 courses) - University of Pennsylvania – Coursera

3.  Human Rights, Human Wrongs: Challenging Poverty, Vulnerability and Social Exclusion – SDGAcademy - EdX

4.  International Climate Change Law and Policy – University of Newcastle, Australia – EdX

5.  Introduction to Environmental Law and Policy – The University of North Carolina – Coursera

6.  Principles of Health Law and Regulatory Issues – Doane University – EdX

Other Courses

1.  A Law Student's Toolkit (Yale University) – Coursera

2.  Business Ethics: Exploring Big Data and Tax Avoidance - University of Leeds – FutureLearn

3.  International Franchise Law: the World is Yours – The University of New South Wales – Futurelearn

4.  Introduction to Modern Diplomacy: Principles, Practices and Actors - Global Diplomatic Forum – FutureLearn

5.  Making Successful Decisions through the Strategy, Law & Ethics Model - University of Michigan – FutureLearn

6.  Music Law: Recording, Management, Rights, and Performance Contracts – LinkedIn Learning

7.  Property Law in a Globalizing Economy: Diversity or Integration? - Waseda University – EdX

8.  The Sharia and Islamic Law: An Introduction – The University of Edinburgh – Futurelearn

Conclusion

Which one of these courses will you take? Share in the comments so you can find others interested in the same courses and keep one another on track.

Remember to share with lawyers/law students/entrepreneurs/investors or anyone else whom you think would benefit.