U. Chicago Law School’s new AI strategy concedes students will use AI
The University of Chicago Law School on Thursday unveiled an AI Strategy Statement that explains how artificial intelligence will be integrated into its curriculum.
The statement includes a “strategic vision” with three themes. They are “developing AI-resilient pedagogy and assessment,” “elevating the ‘essential human’ skills that distinguish excellent lawyers” and “teaching the responsible, effective, and ethical use of AI.” The document is the latest example of how universities and colleges, whatever their approaches to AI, are unable to ignore the technology’s power and influence.
The document notes that “rather than attempting to ban AI or to ignore its risks to learning, our pedagogy and assessment should be designed to ensure our students learn how to think critically and solve legal problems with sound professional judgment.”
It goes on to note that much of the legal profession will “remain the domain of humans,” often because that’s what people will want. These tasks are thought to include “oral advocacy, strategic judgment, critical thinking, and developing and maintaining relationships with clients and stakeholders.”
As for the classroom, the document notes, it “is simply unrealistic to think that students and lawyers will not use AI. But legal technology is changing rapidly, and there is no guarantee that the specific AI tools or techniques that are ascendant today will be useful when current students enter practice. Thus, AI skills training requires more than producing students who can use the tools that are currently part of legal practice.”
