A top-ranked law school in California recently announced a new artificial intelligence policy that largely bans AI use in students’ coursework and exams.
Are near total AI bans the way to go in legal education?
In their recent op-ed, published in JURISTnews, Professor Donald Tobin and his research assistant Samuel Irwin ’28 argue that these bans teach the wrong lesson and should not become standard policy at law schools.
We sat down with Irwin for a quick Q&A to get his thoughts on the subject and how it feels to have a byline in his first year of law school:
Why are you interested in law school AI bans?
I believe large-scale bans will unnecessarily set law students back in their careers by leaving them unfamiliar with the tools the legal profession will already expect them to know. Efficient use of AI will become the standard in the United States within years.
What are you gaining from your experience working as Professor Tobin’s research assistant?
Working for Professor Tobin means applying our research and opinions to real circumstances, which is a side of law school I haven’t seen in class. He is as meticulous and thoughtful with his writing as he is with his teaching, and that lets me learn by example. It has been a unique experience, and I’m hoping it keeps bearing the same fruit it has over these first two months.
What does it mean to you to have your name on a published piece as a student?
Seeing my name on a published piece only one year into law school makes the work behind it feel exciting and meaningful. Trading a graded paper for a publication is a new concept for me. Writing authentically about something relevant to our profession is something I enjoyed.