AI meets law: School of Law leads legal innovation

Miami Law Staff Report | December 13, 2024

In a groundbreaking event at the University of Miami School of Law, the Miami Law & AI Lab (MiLA) convened a dynamic panel of legal practitioners, faculty, and industry experts to explore the transformative impact of AI on the legal landscape. The event showcased Miami Law’s proactive approach to empowering the next generation of legal professionals to embrace and excel in AI-assisted lawyering.

Or Cohen-Sasson, the director of the MiLA Lab, opened the proceedings by addressing the challenges and opportunities presented by AI in the legal field. He emphasized the need for students and legal practitioners to engage proactively with this emerging technology, coining the term’ AI Lawyering’ to describe this new domain.

“AI is not going to replace lawyers, but lawyers who utilize AI will replace those who do not,” he said. Cohen-Sasson pointed to initiatives such as the new Research Awards program and an upcoming Legal Prompt Engineering Contest as vital avenues for enhancing AI fluency among students and legal professionals.

The panel included a diverse group of leaders, each offering unique insights into AI’s role in legal practice and education: Eric Ostroff, managing partner at Meland Budwick; Professor Patricia White, dean emerita and a leader in law and tech; Oliver Roberts, CEO of Wickard AI; and Tatiana Milner, a recent Miami Law graduate and lead legal engineer at Lopti AI.

These experts provided a comprehensive overview of how AI impacts the legal sector.

Ostroff shared his vision for AI in reshaping legal practice, pinpointing three areas of notable progress: legal research, document review, and basic drafting. He highlighted AI’s enhancements in making legal research quicker and more targeted while improving document review efficiency and accuracy. However, he stressed the importance of human oversight in drafting legal documents, acknowledging the need for law schools to adjust their curricula to prepare students for a tech-driven future.

Drawing on her own experiences, White emphasized the urgent need for law schools to adapt to technological advancements. She advocated for comprehensive teaching on AI tools, understanding their capabilities and limitations, addressing ethical implications, and incorporating practical exercises into the curriculum.

The recent graduate Milner shared her journey navigating an AI-enhanced job market. She highlighted the importance of lifelong learning, adaptability, communication skills, and a solid grasp of the intersection between legal and business aspects of AI.

Offering a realistic perspective, Roberts addressed concerns regarding AI’s reliability in legal practice. He mentioned that, according to recent surveys, the main reason that holds practitioners back from using AI more widely is concerns regarding accuracy and confidentiality. Roberts’ emphasis indicates the need for responsible AI integration and resonates with MiLA’s mission to foster ethical and effective AI use within the legal community.

The panel discussion left a profound impression: while AI is set to revolutionize the legal field, success will rely on thoughtful integration and continuous adaptation. Current and future practitioners should actively engage with these advancements, build familiarity with AI tools, and consider the ethical implications they bring. As articulated by Cohen-Sasson, the goal of MiLA is not merely to educate about AI but to prepare students to leverage it effectively and responsibly, thereby shaping the future of law. MiLA actively promotes engagement through AI & Law Practicum courses, membership opportunities, legal AI tool development, and various events.

This article was originally published by University of Miami School of Law on December 09, 2024.