Harnessing Technology in Legal Education: Preparing Future Lawyers for a Digital World
Technology is a significant factor influencing all age groups, and today’s law students are often more comfortable with new technologies than their predecessors. However, the question remains: are they prepared to handle legal cases involving modern technologies like artificial intelligence? Moreover, do they know how to create useful applications for legal tasks and employ efficient work methods?
By teaching students about technology as it applies to law, law schools can prepare future attorneys to be more independent and ready for a rapidly evolving legal landscape.
Every year, Bloomberg Law hosts the Law School Innovation Program, asking schools how they prepare students for rewarding long-term careers in law. This article highlights three standout programs that effectively link legal education and technology.
Duquesne University
At Duquesne University, the Thomas R. Kline School of Law offers a unique Law and Computing Concentration. This program includes a variety of courses that combine legal studies with technology. Students can expect to learn in subjects such as:
- Coding for Lawyers
- Statistics and Machine Learning for Lawyers
- Natural Language Lawyering
- eDiscovery
- Legal Tech Externship
- Data Structures and Algorithms
The curriculum has been developed in partnership with a prominent legal tech company and the research division of Pinsent Masons, a law firm based in London. Each course requires students to engage in coding, typically using Python.
Wesley Oliver, the director of the Law and Computing Program, emphasized that while some students may just want to use existing technologies better, others might discover a passion for creating new tech solutions for the legal field. "Our goal is to provide them with the skills needed to build technology responsibly," he stated.
Georgetown Law
Georgetown Law offers an innovative program called the Technology Law and Policy Scholars Program. This interdisciplinary curriculum focuses on the intersection of technology, law, and policy.
In this program, students must complete two year-long seminars during their first and second years of law school. The first seminar covers ethical and constitutional issues related to technology, while the second year delves into the institutions that shape technology law, including federal agencies and the court system. There’s also a practical component that hones students’ real-world skills.
Interestingly, only about 40% of the program’s participants have a tech background; many come from diverse fields such as journalism, diplomacy, and even the arts. Mary Pat Dwyer, the academic program director, remarked, “This program builds a community of law students interested in tech issues, embracing varied experiences and perspectives.” She noted that the program also emphasizes the ethical dimensions of technology law, consistent with Georgetown’s values.
University of Oklahoma College of Law
The University of Oklahoma College of Law is taking steps to reduce stress and burnout among future lawyers through its Center for Technology & Innovation in Practice. This initiative aims to educate students on essential tech skills and alternative billing methods, integrating these elements into their legal training.
Every student takes a three-credit course through the center each semester, focusing on automating routine legal tasks using AI and other advanced technologies. One intriguing aspect of the program blends academic learning with real-life applications, allowing students to engage with technologies like AI, drones, and virtual reality. This focus on tech fluency empowers graduates to concentrate on more complex legal challenges rather than mundane tasks.
Sean Allan Harrington, the director of technology innovation at the College of Law, pointed out that by adopting non-traditional billing practices and using technology to streamline administrative tasks, the center fosters resilience in students. "These skills help them focus on the more rewarding parts of legal work, reducing burnout," he explained.
In summary, as technology continues to shape the future of the legal field, these law schools are leading the way in preparing students to thrive in a technology-driven environment.
