Distinguished Practitioners Join Seton Hall Law’s Technology Law Practice Lab

The expanded course will give students hands-on experience in IP licensing, technology transactions, AI governance, privacy and data security.

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This fall, Seton Hall Law School will offer its Technology, Data Security and Privacy Lab—a two-credit, pass/fail course taught by Professor David W. Opderbeck and Mary J. Hildebrand, a Distinguished Practitioner in Residence.

For the past two years, the asynchronous online lab has focused on data privacy and security and provided students with practical experience in the work of lawyers and compliance professionals in these fields. Students learn foundational principles of data security and privacy compliance, identify components of an enterprise-wide data security and compliance plan, prepare policy documents required by law and manage the core elements of a data security and privacy compliance program for a simulated organization. The course also includes hands-on assignments and one-on-one reviews with Opderbeck and Hildebrand and concludes with a live, hybrid tabletop exercise.

The lab is expanding its program to include online modules focused on intellectual property (IP) licensing, technology transactions, AI governance and AI in practice, in addition to privacy and data security.

“These additional elements to the lab are essential as technology continues to impact the practice of law and will be essential skills for the next generation of lawyers to successfully execute in practice,” Opderbeck said.

The Gibbons Institute of Law, Science and Technology and the Institute for Privacy Protection at Seton Hall Law have welcomed seven Distinguished Practitioners in Residence as follow:

• Czareena S. Dotchev, senior strategist for governmental relations, International Trademark Association
• Chris Ellis Jr., senior counsel, Audacy Inc.
• Jonathan I. Ezor, associate general counsel, Verizon
• James P. Flynn, managing director, Epstein Becker Green
• Mary J. Hildebrand, retired partner, founder and chair emeritus, Data, Privacy & Cybersecurity Practice, Lowenstein Sandler LLP
• Leann Pinto ’12, senior licensing executive and attorney, Patent Platform Services
• Lou Rambeau, associate general counsel, Carbon Arc

“This elite and diverse group of practitioners not only specializes in these growing areas, but also brings today’s real-world legal practice into focus for the students,” said Opderbeck, who also is co-director of the institutes.

The practitioners are participating in the development of the course, including videos and supplementary materials that reinforce concepts and frameworks and lead to hands-on exercises. During the semester, students will draft an IP strategy memo and technology license agreement, develop a law firm AI acceptable-use policy and compile an AI risk-management framework document.

The lab also provides students with opportunities to meet virtually with the practitioners to review their work and receive mentorship.

“We are thankful to these top-tier practitioners for helping to ensure that Seton Hall Law students are equipped with the knowledge and skills to be practice-ready lawyers in this new technological landscape,” said Dean Ronald Weich.

The lab complements the school's technology concentration and specialized tracks in IP Law; Technology Law and Business; Privacy and Cybersecurity Law; and Entertainment and New Media.