CS50’s computer science for lawyers is a Harvard-based online course intended for lawyers who are interested in technology.
It is a younger sibling of the cult course CS50, which is an introduction to programming for anyone (lawyers included).
I am a qualified attorney and a big fan of CS50, so I was curious about this lawyer-driven computer science course.
In fact, I started my coding journey by doing the full CS50 – you can read my review of the course here.
In this post, I will cover the following information on CS50 for Lawyers:
- What is it?
- How to start
- How much does it cost to take the course
- Who is it intended for
- How difficult is it
- What are the benefits
- Should I do CS50 or CS50 for Lawyers?
What is CS50 for Lawyers?
CS50 for Lawyers is a self-paced course in beginner computational thinking and general understanding of technology. It is taught by the legendary David Malan and Doug Lloyd (who also used to be a practicing attorney) at Harvard University.
Over the course of 10 units, it covers the following topics: computational thinking, programming languages, algorithms, data structures, cryptography, cybersecurity, web development, database design, and challenges at the intersection of law and technology.
Each unit contains a video lecture and an assignment set, which is a combination of theoretical and programming problems.
How to start?
You can access CS50 for Lawyers through their open courseware website. You are going to need an edX account and a GitHub account, both of which you can create for free. These are necessary to track your performance in the course on your personalised report card.
Once you are done with the setup, you can start by watching the first class a do the first assignment.
How much does CS50 for Lawyers cost?
CS50 for Lawyers is available completely for free with a certificate.
If interested in a verified certificate from edX, there is an extra charge (as of July 2023 it is USD 299).
Who is CS50 for Lawyers for?
CS50 for Lawyers is (as the name suggests) designed for lawyers and legal professionals with an interest in technology. It is an introduction to all sorts of “under the hood” concepts in computer science.
It does not require any prior knowledge of programming or technology.
How difficult is the course?
The assignments in CS50 for Lawyers are of two kinds: theoretical and programming ones.
When it comes to the theoretical ones, the answers are covered in the lectures and if you follow the lectures and pay attention, you should not have too much trouble filling these in.
The programming felt easy to me personally due to my coding background, and all the tasks were quite straightforward. In other words, these would be at the level that I would ask undergraduate law students in my classes without previous experience. Hence it might be frustrating but definitely doable.
If you want to learn something, it will definitely take some time (I would estimate 3-4 hours per one unit), so ultimately it is up to you to decide if it is worth it. In general, I do not believe that the class is worth taking without doing the assignments.
Why should I do CS50 for Lawyers?
CS50 for Lawyers is great if you want to gain a general understanding of technology and computer science. It will not prompt you to do any sophisticated coding, and it is a lot more theory-driven than “regular” CS50.
It is a great way how to build up your foundation to be a better partner in technical discussions with your IT or tech partners. The course also provides an introduction to some of the IT jargon, which can prove helpful, if you work in multidisciplinary teams or if you specialise in IT law.
On the other hand, the course has not been updated for a while, so do not expect to get a background in topics such as Umělá inteligence.
Should I do CS50 or CS50 for Lawyers?
In short, CS50 for lawyers is a great choice if its style fits you and your needs.
If your objective is to understand the basics, the lingo, and the general foundations of computational and algorithmic thinking (which is fantastic), CS50 for Lawyers may be a great option. Its teaching style is also a lot more optimised for the traditional, Socratic way of how the law is usually taught.
If you are looking into a career transition or some serious coding practice, then regular CS50 would be a better start in my opinion. Here is my long review of the course.
Not sure if learning to code would be worth it for you? Read here on why I think that lawyers should learn to code a why it is still a good idea in the age of AI.
Závěrečná ustanovení
CS50 for Lawyers is a lawyer-focused course on the basics of computer science and algorithmic thinking.
It is a great option for IT lawyers and other legal professionals who want to understand the world of technology. If this fits your profile, you are likely going to have a great time.
If, on the other hand, you would like to do some more programming, here is how to start.
What about you? Did you do CS50 for Lawyers? Did you like it?
Let me know your thoughts in the comments!
-Baru
Great review! Needed it because I was in between CS50 for Lawyers or the common CS50. I´ll start with it for Lawyers (I´m a last year LLB student) and if I want to go more deeply I will engage in the common one. Thank you!