The AI Savvy Lawyer: Practice Enhancement

This is a practical, hands-on course designed to prepare 2L and 3L law students for the rapidly evolving landscape of AI-enhanced legal practice. This course bridges the gap between traditional legal education and the technological competencies required in modern law firms, corporate legal departments, and solo practices. Students will gain foundational footing on how AI is reshaping the labor market, and most importantly, the practice of law. You will explore legal practice within the growing number of “AI-Native” law firms that are disrupting the legal status quo. You will study and, where applicable, access and use leading-edge AI tools that are transforming core legal functions including legal research, e-discovery, contract analysis, brief writing, and client advisory services. Beyond substantive legal work, the course explores how AI is revolutionizing the business of law—from client development and marketing to talent recruitment and development. Through a combination of demonstrations, practical exercises, case studies, and guest speakers from leading law firms and legal tech companies, students will develop both technical skills and strategic judgment about when and how to deploy AI tools effectively and ethically. The course emphasizes practical application: students will use AI tools to complete realistic legal tasks, critically evaluate AI outputs for accuracy and bias, and understand the ethical obligations surrounding AI use in legal practice. By the end of this course, students will be equipped to leverage AI in their legal careers while maintaining the professional judgment, ethical standards, and client-centered approach that define excellent lawyering. The course will culminate in a capstone group project that involves students taking the persona of Head of AI of a legal institution of their choosing – law firm, in-house dept, law school, etc. – and developing a PowerPoint presentation (10 slides or less) of a workplace AI Strategy Plan. PREREQUISITES: None. No prior technical experience required.