From Casebooks To Chatbots: Another Law School Makes AI Certification Mandatory For Students
High-profile artificial intelligence screwups are now occurring on an almost weekly basis, proving that even experienced attorneys need more training when it comes to how to spot caselaw hallucinations. With law schools now trying to get their students future ready for a practice of law that will inevitably include generative AI, a second school will now require AI certification for its first-year students.
Mississippi College School of Law will be joining Case Western Reserve University School of Law in adopting this mandatory program. Law.com has additional information on MC Law’s new Introduction to AI and the Law certification, developed in partnership with Wickard.ai, and its founder and CEO, Oliver Roberts:
The program will combine foundational instruction, hands-on training with AI-powered legal tools, and an assessment to ensure demonstrated competency, while students will also learn about ethical and regulatory aspects of AI, according to the school.
The first session will provide an introduction to AI and LLMs; session two will cover best practices for using AI models; session three will address how AI can be ethically used in research, drafting and client service; and the fourth and final session will give an overview of federal and state AI regulations, according to Roberts.
The course culminates in a certification exam, and passing students receive an AI legal practice certification.
“MC Law is looking to take the lead in preparing the twenty-first-century lawyer for the effective and ethical use of AI to better serve their clients and communities,” Dean John Anderson said. “The goal is to maximize the benefits of these transformational technologies for our state and nation while minimizing the risks.”
Which law school will be the next to offer an essential AI certification program like this for its students? You can email us or text us (646-820-8477) if you have any intel. Thank you.
Second Law School Adopts Mandatory AI Certification for 1Ls [Law.com]
Staci Zaretsky is the managing editor of Above the Law, where she’s worked since 2011. She’d love to hear from you, so please feel free to email her with any tips, questions, comments, or critiques. You can follow her on Bluesky, X/Twitter, and Threads, or connect with her on LinkedIn.
