Wake Forest Law Engagement Framework for Artificial Intelligence and Legal Education
Wake Forest Law is guided by our Engagement Framework for Artificial Intelligence and Legal Education:
1. Legal Education Must Lead with the Foundations
Effective lawyers must know core legal doctrine and be able to reason thoughtfully, communicate effectively, and argue persuasively. Even as AI use grows in the profession, these competencies remain critical.
Students therefore must continue to learn foundational legal principles and skills. AI is not a substitute for the human aspects of lawyering. Moreover, AI technologies should not undermine the development of essential critical thinking skills. Otherwise, students will inherit AI’s limits and will be unable to take a client further than AI can reason. In addition, they will lack the ability to use AI to augment their skills, as knowing core legal doctrine is key to asking the right questions of AI systems and evaluating the results. For these reasons, students must first and foremost learn how to be lawyers, regardless of AI’s availability.
2. Students Must Understand How AI Is Being Integrated into the Legal Profession
The practice of law has changed with the advent of AI, and it will continue to evolve as the technologies develop. To be practice-ready, students must become familiar with the basic capabilities of AI systems and understand how AI is reshaping legal work.
Students need to learn the fundamentals of AI tools, including what the systems are and how they operate. Students should also learn when a particular AI model is best suited to a task, as well as when they should avoid using AI at all. Just as importantly, students must be able to critically evaluate the outputs of AI systems. They must verify the accuracy of any AI-generated product as well as assess its utility before incorporating any AI output into their work.
AI literacy also requires students to learn how AI is impacting the practice of law. To ensure that our curriculum and educational program provides students with this understanding, the Law School will continue to engage and collaborate with alumni, employers, and other members of the legal profession. Doing so will allow Wake Forest Law to stay abreast of changes in practice and adjust its curriculum as needed.
3. AI Must Always Be Used Ethically and Responsibly
Lawyers have a professional obligation to use AI ethically and responsibly.
Students must graduate knowing how and when AI use complies with the rules of professional conduct, including the duties of competency, confidentiality, honesty, and candor. They must also recognize that court, employer, and client policies may dictate their ability to utilize AI.
Additionally, law schools must acknowledge the broader societal concerns associated with AI systems, including economic disruption and environmental costs. Moreover, because AI can reflect and amplify biases, students must know to approach AI outputs with a critical eye.
4. AI Use Will Vary Depending on the Course
Legal employers, clients, and courts all have varying policies with respect to AI. So too will the Law School’s courses.
Instructors may restrict, prohibit, or encourage AI use depending on their pedagogical goals. Some may ban specific AI tools or types of use to ensure students develop a base of knowledge and skills, or to maintain the integrity of assessment mechanisms. Others may integrate AI into all or part of their curriculum. In addition, some may have specific requirements for AI attribution and citation to ensure academic integrity. The Wake Forest Law School Honor Code requires students comply with all course policies, including those on AI.
Students should receive clear guidance regarding AI use, in each class. If a student is unsure about a permitted use of AI, they should clarify an instructor’s policies before deploying AI in any part of their work for the course.