In recent years, advancements in artificial intelligence have significantly impacted the legal profession. Generative AI models, such as OpenAI’s GPT models, have shown incredible capabilities in tasks that legal professionals have historically performed. The company’s latest model, GPT o1, has achieved remarkable results on standardized tests, likely scoring in the 99th percentile on the LSAT. The model rivals top law students while completing tasks within a fraction of the time. Furthermore, law firms and corporate legal departments increasingly rely on AI tools to enhance efficiency while reducing costs, making it harder for new lawyers to showcase their skills.
Despite these technological advancements, law schools have turned a blind eye to AI and show no indication of integrating it into their curricula. Lawyers lacking technological proficiency could struggle to compete in a world that prioritizes efficiency and technological competence. In addition, the American Bar Association’s emphasis on competence and the pursuit of knowledge as a lawyer further highlights the need to understand relevant technologies that are utilized in the legal field. Law schools’ failure to adapt to current technologies degrades the field, its students, and involved institutions.
With time and money being paramount in the legal world, generative AI has reshaped legal research by offering unmatched speed and accuracy. Similar to how the internet replaced the hours that law professionals spent at law libraries scouring for information, AI has accelerated the time it takes to complete assigned tasks. Traditional legal research, which demands significant time to review statutes, case law, and precedents, is now being done with tools like ROSS Intelligence, which does them more efficiently and accurately. Models like ROSS Intelligence integrate natural language understanding, enabling lawyers to input complex queries in simple English and receive well-formulated responses.
An example of AI’s integration into law is seen in Luminance, a technology and law-based organization that recently incorporated its own AI into contract review. With a relatively small legal team, the group was flooded with large amounts of contracts and agreements every day. However, the company’s incorporation of its law-based AI allowed it to reduce the amount of time spent on contract review by 60%. This step further reduced the amount of work being outsourced, thus saving costs.
Law graduates entering the workforce are increasingly expected to have technological expertise. AI tools such as GPT models and ROSS Intelligence are now the norm in legal research and contract review. According to a recent study, the percentage of North American law firms that use AI has jumped from a measly 19% in 2023 to a whopping 79% in 2024. The same study also revealed that roughly three-quarters of hourly billable tasks can potentially be automated. In attempts to increase efficiency and reduce costs, it is expected that employers will prioritize candidates who are familiar with the automation of tasks. However, the lack of AI-driven education in law schools makes undergraduates less competitive in this market.
Moreover, schools that lag behind may start to see a decline in the quality of students they attract, as top talent will seek programs that prepare them for the reality of the current legal landscape. Katie Atkinson, a dean at the University of Liverpool, says, “It’s not like all the lawyers are going to be replaced by data scientists. It’s more like there’s a section of new roles coming in.” Instead of treating AI as a threat to future opportunities, law students should be taught to use new technologies as a means of advancing and improving the profession.
Another reason for law schools to adopt an AI-based curriculum lies in the rise of complex ethical issues, such as bias in algorithms and the protection of client confidentiality. A lawyer delving into these technologies without prior experience in the legal context risks misusing these tools, leading to malpractice. Proper training, which is incorporated into law school curricula, will reduce the chances of lawyers exposing themselves and their clients to significant risks. Additionally, technologically literate lawyers will be more likely to develop new technologies that improve access to justice and streamline legal processes.
As AI continues to reshape the legal profession, law schools need to reshape their approach to legal education. An obvious solution would involve the incorporation of dedicated technology and AI modules in law school. Courses that provide foundational knowledge about machine learning and data science can inspire students to adopt a technology-based approach to law, thus driving future innovation. These courses should revolve around real-world case studies to inform students about leading technologies such as ROSS Intelligence, Casetext, and GPT models and how they are used in firms and corporations. Partnerships with firms that rely on these technologies can further strengthen such modules. In addition, workshops and seminars hosted by leaders in the field can introduce and provide students with hands-on experience with new tools. As educators become more open to incorporating technology in legal education, they can go as far as collaborating with their school’s technology departments to form joint degree programs.
Another important reason for incorporating AI education into law involves the risk of algorithms producing biased or inaccurate content. Although these algorithms can be powerful, they can perpetuate biases that are present in training data, thus producing unfair results. By informing students about risks and promoting the selective use of these technologies, law professionals can recognize and mitigate any issues that arise due to their use. Lawyers who have their first encounters with AI during actual practice risk harming their careers, as getting accustomed to such powerful technologies without prior experience can be challenging.
Students who are inclined towards policy-making rather than technological innovation should also have the opportunity to learn about current policies surrounding AI. Integrating AI in classes about policy formulation can provide future policymakers with a better foundation to enforce policies that ensure that new technologies are used responsibly. Collaborating with major think tanks and policy-making institutions to prompt conversations about policies surrounding AI could further help students contribute to the discussion.
The transformative nature of AI in today’s world is undeniable. However, it requires a proactive response from leading educational institutions. As these tools become more powerful, law schools should see them not as a threat but as an opportunity to drive innovation and prepare students for the future. By integrating AI-oriented courses, providing hands-on experience, and addressing its ethical and policy-making dimensions, law schools will produce lawyers who are not only aware of these changes but also shape the evolution of this prestigious profession.
