Nurturing legal skills and standards for professional practice: Revamping the role of law schools through technology-oriented curriculum reforms

Author
M.P.Ramaswamy

Affiliation
Department of Global Legal Studies, Faculty of Law,
University of Macau, Macau SAR
E-mail: emailperu@gmail.com

Corresponding author
M.P.Ramaswamy
Department of Global Legal Studies, Faculty of Law,
University of Macau, Macau SAR
E-mail: emailperu@gmail.com

Sponsoring information
No sponsoring information to declare

Abstract
Law school curriculum is conventionally aligned to the calls of the legal profession, albeit more in knowledge development than in vocational training. However, with the advent of artificial intelligence (AI), new opportunities are emerging for law schools to reposition their roles. The paper aims to determine how the skills and standards warranted by the legal profession could be met by law schools harnessing AI technology. After identifying relevant professional skill sets and licensing standards, the paper assesses the scope of contemporary AI applications in legal practice. The paper argues the feasibility for AI training in legal education curricula with reference to the response in selective law schools and some emerging jurisprudence on professional AI usage, emphasizing the need to take due cognizance of relevant caveats in designing AI curriculum. The paper calls for a more cohesive action to adapt AI technology training for law students in serving the legal profession.

Keywords: artificial intelligence; legal profession; language; legal education; curriculum reforms

Article Type: Open Access

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