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>>Should coders learn law? I'm of the opinion that engineers most certainly should. Canadian engineers have to take a short closed book 3-hr Professional Pract

>>Should coders learn law? I'm of the opinion that engineers most certainly should. Canadian engineers have to take a short closed book 3-hr Professional Practice Examination (PPE) covering "ethics, professional practice, engineering law and professional liability" as part of the licensing process.[1] The reference is from Professional Engineers of Ontario as Canada's engineers are regulated at the provincial level, but thankfully is also generally similar across the provinces. I'd imagine the American version (PE)[2] is somewhat similar. While engineering law (typically torte) is a very small slice of The Law (TM), at least it's a start in the right direction. Note that this would only apply to a subset of coders who actively seek out a professional "Engineer" title designation. Most computer engineering or electrical engineering graduates (probably the most likely population) don't need to, and don't actually end up, becoming professionally designated.[3] [1] http://www.peo.on.ca/index.php/ci_id/2060/index.php?ci_id=2060&la_id=1#PPE http://www.peo.on.ca/index.php/ci_id/2060/index.php?ci_id=20... [2] https://www.nspe.org/resources/licensure/how-get-licensed https://www.nspe.org/resources/licensure/how-get-licensed [3] Anecdata

jbay808 7y ago
Yup. In BC, we basically have to read a law textbook covering contract law, professional liability, use of codes + standards, intellectual property, and other such topics and then pass an exam about it. Among many other requirements...
- checktheorder 7y ago
  It's much the same for us Canadian accounting grads. Law classes are standard in any reputable accounting undergrad program, and mandatory for CPA accreditation (as it was in the CGA, CA, and CMA before the CPA merger). It's not so much about training accountants to be lawyers, but more about making sure that accountants understand when to seek legal advice, the consequences of failing to do so, and how to converse with a lawyer effectively.
0xffff2 7y ago
>Most computer engineering or electrical engineering graduates (probably the most likely population) don't need to, and don't actually end up, becoming professionally designated.[3] I would also imagine that they make up the overwhelming minority of software engineers. I don't know about Canada, but in the US the licensing authority did away with the software engineering PE entirely for lack of interest a few years ago.
slavik81 7y ago
The amount of study required to pass the law and ethics exam is perhaps an evening or two of reading. I did learn a few things in the process, but the level of knowledge it represents is on par with a learner's permit for a new driver.

jbay808 7y ago

Yup. In BC, we basically have to read a law textbook covering contract law, professional liability, use of codes + standards, intellectual property, and other such topics and then pass an exam about it. Among many other requirements...

checktheorder 7y ago
It's much the same for us Canadian accounting grads. Law classes are standard in any reputable accounting undergrad program, and mandatory for CPA accreditation (as it was in the CGA, CA, and CMA before the CPA merger). It's not so much about training accountants to be lawyers, but more about making sure that accountants understand when to seek legal advice, the consequences of failing to do so, and how to converse with a lawyer effectively.

0xffff2 7y ago

>Most computer engineering or electrical engineering graduates (probably the most likely population) don't need to, and don't actually end up, becoming professionally designated.[3] I would also imagine that they make up the overwhelming minority of software engineers. I don't know about Canada, but in the US the licensing authority did away with the software engineering PE entirely for lack of interest a few years ago.

slavik81 7y ago

The amount of study required to pass the law and ethics exam is perhaps an evening or two of reading. I did learn a few things in the process, but the level of knowledge it represents is on par with a learner's permit for a new driver.