The
legal
profession
is
at
a
crossroads,
shaped
by
rapid
technological
advancements
that
are
fundamentally
transforming
how
law
is
practiced
and
taught.
As
we
stand
on
the
brink
of
a
new
era
defined
by
artificial
intelligence
(AI)
and
data-driven
decision-making,
the
question
arises:
How
should
legal
education
adapt
to
prepare
the
next
generation
of
lawyers
for
the
challenges
ahead?
To
explore
this
pressing
issue,
I
had
the
pleasure
of
speaking
with
Harry
Borovick,
general
counsel
at
Luminance,
an
AI
company
specializing
in
legal
technology.
Harry,
who
also
lectures
on
legal
education
and
technology,
offers
a
unique
perspective
on
how
the
intersection
of
AI
and
law
is
reshaping
the
landscape.
Here
are
three
unconventional,
actionable
insights
from
our
conversation
that
highlight
the
need
for
a
radical
rethinking
of
legal
education.
1.
Integrate
AI
Education
Into
Every
Aspect
Of
Legal
Training
Traditional
legal
education
has
remained
largely
unchanged
for
decades,
focusing
heavily
on
theoretical
knowledge
and
case
law
analysis.
However,
Harry
argues
that
law
schools
must
evolve
beyond
these
traditional
confines
and
integrate
AI
education
into
every
aspect
of
their
training.
Rather
than
treating
AI
as
a
separate
elective
or
niche
topic,
it
should
be
woven
into
the
fabric
of
all
legal
subjects.
Imagine
a
contracts
class
where
students
not
only
learn
to
draft
agreements
but
also
use
AI
tools
to
analyze
contract
language
for
risks
and
opportunities.
Or
a
course
in
property
law
that
includes
modules
on
using
AI
to
predict
property
disputes
based
on
historical
data
trends.
By
embedding
AI
into
the
core
curriculum,
law
schools
can
ensure
that
students
are
not
only
aware
of
these
tools
but
also
adept
at
using
them
to
enhance
their
legal
practice.
Actionable
Insight:
Law
schools
should
collaborate
with
AI
companies
and
legal
tech
firms
to
create
integrated
modules
that
teach
students
how
to
use
AI
in
real-world
legal
scenarios.
This
could
involve
partnerships
where
students
get
hands-on
experience
with
AI
tools
in
internships
or
practicum
courses,
ensuring
that
they
graduate
with
practical,
market-ready
skills.
2.
Adopt
A
‘Technology-Agnostic’
Approach
To
AI
Training
One
of
the
common
pitfalls
in
legal
education
is
a
tendency
to
focus
on
specific
tools
or
platforms.
While
familiarity
with
certain
technologies
can
be
useful,
Harry
emphasizes
the
importance
of
a
“technology-agnostic”
approach
to
AI
training.
This
means
teaching
the
underlying
principles
and
methodologies
of
AI
and
machine
learning,
rather
than
just
how
to
use
a
particular
software.
Why
does
this
matter?
Because
technology
evolves
at
a
breakneck
pace.
The
AI
tools
that
are
cutting-edge
today
may
be
obsolete
tomorrow.
By
focusing
on
the
principles
behind
AI
—
such
as
data
analysis,
natural
language
processing,
and
ethical
considerations
—
law
students
will
be
equipped
to
adapt
to
new
tools
and
platforms
as
they
emerge.
Actionable
Insight:
Law
schools
should
develop
foundational
courses
in
AI
that
focus
on
the
core
concepts
and
skills,
such
as
data
literacy
and
ethical
AI
use.
These
courses
should
be
mandatory
for
all
law
students,
regardless
of
their
intended
specialization,
ensuring
a
baseline
competency
in
AI
that
can
be
built
upon
with
specific
tools
as
needed.
3.
Redefine
Success
In
Legal
Education
To
Include
Technological
Proficiency
Traditionally,
success
in
legal
education
has
been
defined
by
grades,
moot
court
achievements,
and
securing
prestigious
clerkships
or
firm
placements.
However,
in
the
age
of
AI,
Harry
suggests
that
we
need
to
redefine
what
success
looks
like.
Law
schools
should
expand
their
metrics
for
success
to
include
technological
proficiency
and
the
ability
to
leverage
AI
in
legal
practice.
This
shift
requires
a
cultural
change
within
the
legal
academy.
It
means
valuing
a
student’s
ability
to
use
AI
for
contract
review
or
litigation
forecasting
as
much
as
their
skill
in
writing
a
compelling
brief.
It
also
involves
reassessing
how
we
prepare
students
for
the
job
market,
emphasizing
skills
that
will
make
them
valuable
in
a
rapidly
changing
legal
landscape.
Actionable
Insight:
Law
schools
can
start
by
incorporating
AI
and
tech
proficiency
into
their
grading
and
assessment
systems.
For
example,
students
could
be
graded
on
their
ability
to
use
AI
tools
to
solve
hypothetical
legal
problems,
or
their
proficiency
in
developing
AI-driven
legal
strategies.
Career
services
can
also
shift
their
focus,
offering
workshops
and
resources
on
legal
tech
skills
and
connecting
students
with
internships
at
tech-forward
legal
departments.
Looking
Ahead:
Preparing
For
The
Future
Of
Legal
Practice
The
age
of
AI
is
here,
and
the
legal
profession
must
adapt.
As
Harry
Borovick
eloquently
argues,
legal
education
must
evolve
to
prepare
students
not
just
for
the
world
as
it
is,
but
for
the
world
as
it
is
rapidly
becoming.
By
integrating
AI
education
into
every
aspect
of
legal
training,
adopting
a
technology-agnostic
approach,
and
redefining
success
to
include
technological
proficiency,
law
schools
can
ensure
that
their
graduates
are
ready
to
thrive
in
the
future
of
law.
For
current
legal
professionals
and
educators,
the
challenge
is
clear:
embrace
this
evolution
or
risk
being
left
behind.
The
legal
field
is
not
immune
to
the
transformative
forces
of
technology,
and
those
who
are
prepared
will
find
themselves
at
the
forefront
of
a
new
era
in
law.
So,
whether
you
are
a
seasoned
attorney,
a
law
professor,
or
a
law
student,
take
a
moment
to
consider
how
you
can
engage
with
AI
and
technology.
It’s
not
just
about
keeping
up
—
it’s
about
leading
the
way.
Olga
V.
Mack
is
a
Fellow
at
CodeX,
The
Stanford
Center
for
Legal
Informatics,
and
a
Generative
AI
Editor
at
law.MIT.
Olga
embraces
legal
innovation
and
had
dedicated
her
career
to
improving
and
shaping
the
future
of
law.
She
is
convinced
that
the
legal
profession
will
emerge
even
stronger,
more
resilient,
and
more
inclusive
than
before
by
embracing
technology.
Olga
is
also
an
award-winning
general
counsel,
operations
professional,
startup
advisor,
public
speaker,
adjunct
professor,
and
entrepreneur.
She
authored Get
on
Board:
Earning
Your
Ticket
to
a
Corporate
Board
Seat, Fundamentals
of
Smart
Contract
Security,
and Blockchain
Value:
Transforming
Business
Models,
Society,
and
Communities. She
is
working
on
three
books:
Visual
IQ
for
Lawyers
(ABA
2024), The
Rise
of
Product
Lawyers:
An
Analytical
Framework
to
Systematically
Advise
Your
Clients
Throughout
the
Product
Lifecycle
(Globe
Law
and
Business
2024),
and
Legal
Operations
in
the
Age
of
AI
and
Data
(Globe
Law
and
Business
2024).
You
can
follow
Olga
on
LinkedIn
and
Twitter
@olgavmack.