On March 9, a program on developing AI literacy in law students was the inaugural session in the AALS–West Academic webinar series.
As AI rapidly reshapes legal practice, law schools are experimenting with a wide range of approaches to help students build the skills and judgment they’ll need in an AI-infused profession.
Here’s the video and a description of the program, which provided a landscape view of how legal educators across the country are developing AI literacy in thoughtful, practical, and innovative ways.
Many faculty and administrators feel overwhelmed by the scale and speed of change in this area. This session aimed to counter that sense of uncertainty by showcasing the diverse, achievable, and exciting ways law schools are engaging with AI.
The discussion offered practical entry points, inspiration from peer institutions, and a clearer sense of how to begin building AI literacy in their own programs. The panel highlighted several emerging models, including:
- Incorporating AI tools into foundational lawyering courses to strengthen research, writing, and analytical skills;
- Expanding legal writing, clinical, and doctrinal curricula with learning outcomes tied to professional responsibility, evidence, and the ethical use of AI;
- Embedding AI literacy into clinical settings through hands on experimentation and problem solving in law school–based AI labs; and,
- Developing certificate programs that provide structured pathways for students to engage more deeply with AI technologies and their implications for legal practice.
Take a look.
