The legal profession is at a crossroads, shaped by rapid technological advancements that are fundamentally transforming how law is practiced and taught. As we stand on the brink of a new era defined by artificial intelligence (AI) and data-driven decision-making, the question arises: How should legal education adapt to prepare the next generation of lawyers for the challenges ahead?
To explore this pressing issue, I had the pleasure of speaking with Harry Borovick, general counsel at Luminance, an AI company specializing in legal technology. Harry, who also lectures on legal education and technology, offers a unique perspective on how the intersection of AI and law is reshaping the landscape. Here are three unconventional, actionable insights from our conversation that highlight the need for a radical rethinking of legal education.
1. Integrate AI Education Into Every Aspect Of Legal Training
Traditional legal education has remained largely unchanged for decades, focusing heavily on theoretical knowledge and case law analysis. However, Harry argues that law schools must evolve beyond these traditional confines and integrate AI education into every aspect of their training. Rather than treating AI as a separate elective or niche topic, it should be woven into the fabric of all legal subjects.
Imagine a contracts class where students not only learn to draft agreements but also use AI tools to analyze contract language for risks and opportunities. Or a course in property law that includes modules on using AI to predict property disputes based on historical data trends. By embedding AI into the core curriculum, law schools can ensure that students are not only aware of these tools but also adept at using them to enhance their legal practice.
Actionable Insight: Law schools should collaborate with AI companies and legal tech firms to create integrated modules that teach students how to use AI in real-world legal scenarios. This could involve partnerships where students get hands-on experience with AI tools in internships or practicum courses, ensuring that they graduate with practical, market-ready skills.
2. Adopt A ‘Technology-Agnostic’ Approach To AI Training
One of the common pitfalls in legal education is a tendency to focus on specific tools or platforms. While familiarity with certain technologies can be useful, Harry emphasizes the importance of a “technology-agnostic” approach to AI training. This means teaching the underlying principles and methodologies of AI and machine learning, rather than just how to use a particular software.
Why does this matter? Because technology evolves at a breakneck pace. The AI tools that are cutting-edge today may be obsolete tomorrow. By focusing on the principles behind AI — such as data analysis, natural language processing, and ethical considerations — law students will be equipped to adapt to new tools and platforms as they emerge.
Actionable Insight: Law schools should develop foundational courses in AI that focus on the core concepts and skills, such as data literacy and ethical AI use. These courses should be mandatory for all law students, regardless of their intended specialization, ensuring a baseline competency in AI that can be built upon with specific tools as needed.
3. Redefine Success In Legal Education To Include Technological Proficiency
Traditionally, success in legal education has been defined by grades, moot court achievements, and securing prestigious clerkships or firm placements. However, in the age of AI, Harry suggests that we need to redefine what success looks like. Law schools should expand their metrics for success to include technological proficiency and the ability to leverage AI in legal practice.
This shift requires a cultural change within the legal academy. It means valuing a student’s ability to use AI for contract review or litigation forecasting as much as their skill in writing a compelling brief. It also involves reassessing how we prepare students for the job market, emphasizing skills that will make them valuable in a rapidly changing legal landscape.
Actionable Insight: Law schools can start by incorporating AI and tech proficiency into their grading and assessment systems. For example, students could be graded on their ability to use AI tools to solve hypothetical legal problems, or their proficiency in developing AI-driven legal strategies. Career services can also shift their focus, offering workshops and resources on legal tech skills and connecting students with internships at tech-forward legal departments.
Looking Ahead: Preparing For The Future Of Legal Practice
The age of AI is here, and the legal profession must adapt. As Harry Borovick eloquently argues, legal education must evolve to prepare students not just for the world as it is, but for the world as it is rapidly becoming. By integrating AI education into every aspect of legal training, adopting a technology-agnostic approach, and redefining success to include technological proficiency, law schools can ensure that their graduates are ready to thrive in the future of law.
For current legal professionals and educators, the challenge is clear: embrace this evolution or risk being left behind. The legal field is not immune to the transformative forces of technology, and those who are prepared will find themselves at the forefront of a new era in law.
So, whether you are a seasoned attorney, a law professor, or a law student, take a moment to consider how you can engage with AI and technology. It’s not just about keeping up — it’s about leading the way.
Olga V. Mack is a Fellow at CodeX, The Stanford Center for Legal Informatics, and a Generative AI Editor at law.MIT. Olga embraces legal innovation and had dedicated her career to improving and shaping the future of law. She is convinced that the legal profession will emerge even stronger, more resilient, and more inclusive than before by embracing technology. Olga is also an award-winning general counsel, operations professional, startup advisor, public speaker, adjunct professor, and entrepreneur. She authored Get on Board: Earning Your Ticket to a Corporate Board Seat, Fundamentals of Smart Contract Security, and Blockchain Value: Transforming Business Models, Society, and Communities. She is working on three books: Visual IQ for Lawyers (ABA 2024), The Rise of Product Lawyers: An Analytical Framework to Systematically Advise Your Clients Throughout the Product Lifecycle (Globe Law and Business 2024), and Legal Operations in the Age of AI and Data (Globe Law and Business 2024). You can follow Olga on LinkedIn and Twitter @olgavmack.