The Osgoode Certificate in Blockchains, Smart Contracts and the Law

About The Osgoode Certificate in Blockchains, Smart Contracts and the Law

Interpret and plan for global market change through this educational course developed for lawyers, business leaders, managers and influencers with an interest in blockchain.

The Osgoode Certificate on Blockchains, Smart Contracts and the Law is designed to cohesively integrate relevant information on governance, regulation, policy, law and distributed ledger systems in a way that is tailored to help you to understand the implications how blockchain works, and its potential impact.

Designed to help lawyers, financial services and business professionals, entrepreneurs, government officials and public administrators better understand the technical underpinnings of blockchain, how it will likely interact with existing legal and financial systems, and what opportunities exist for innovation in blockchain systems.

The certificate bridges a wide gap that exists today between specialist and generalist knowledge in this multidisciplinary field. The certificate is ideal for anyone with a keen interest in blockchain technology.

Spread out over multiple weeks, this one-of-a-kind, focused and practical Certificate, provides an overview of key issues, together with practical strategies from an expert, multi-disciplinary faculty. You will explore the potential of the blockchain industry, as well as the effect of the technology on other industries, enhancing your understanding of blockchain and arming you with the knowledge and insights to incorporate blockchain into your practice and/or business strategy.

Module 1 – The Fundamentals of Blockchains, Smart Contracts and the Law

Get a solid grounding in the legal structure and fundamental principles that are essential foundations for any business or legal professional involved in this rapidly evolving area. Topics include:

Context and concepts of Blockchains
Understanding blockchains and distributed ledger ecosystems
Learn why blockchain stands out
Understanding the regulatory and legislative frameworks
Cryptography and blockchain, including their relationship to Bitcoin

Module 2 – Cryptocurrency and Smart Contracts: Understanding the Challenges and Legal issues

Learn the foundations of cryptocurrencies and explore their economic implications. Acknowledged experts – from both a technical and economic perspective – will provide a solid grounding of core concepts, providing an overview of the legal landscape while also highlighting the broad range of legal issues raised by various applications of this technology and the legal and regulatory responses to date.

Cryptocurrencies, Initial Coin Offerings and Characterizing Blockchain Tokens
Smart Contracts and Decentralized Applications
Competently Advising through Blockchain Innovation
Analyzing the Nature of Blockchain Transactions and Differences in Business Models
PLUS! You will have the opportunity to put what you have learned into practice. All participants will go through the process of creating a smart legal agreement (‘smart contract’).