The rapid development of generative artificial intelligence (GAI), including large language models (LLMs) and chatbots, is revolutionizing the legal space. Lawyers, law students, and other legal professionals are showing a keen interest in engaging with and understanding this novel technology. Education on this emerging technology is being pursued through various sources including legal conferences, CLEs, and online articles and courses. Above The Law outlines the opportunities and challenges faced by legal professionals in adopting GAI technologies.
One key focus area for education and training has been ‘prompting.’ The current GAI tools provide better results when the input prompts, or the questions, are well crafted and provide the necessary foundational information. Many law schools and firms are thus emphasizing teaching the art of the prompt, alongside the familiarization with AI technologies.
Law organizations are making strategic efforts to impart AI knowledge to their workforce. For instance, Professor David Kempt taught a two-week course on generative AI tools like ChatGPT at Rutgers Law School. This course covered varied topics, including how ChatGPT works, its strengths and weaknesses, and the ethical considerations involved in using such AI-driven tools in a legal practice.
In addition to this, law firms are increasingly relying on providers like AltaClaro and SkillBurst Interactive to conduct training courses on GAI and its risks and benefits. This type of training is expected to help legal professionals get up to speed with GAI technologies, understand their benefits, and avoid any potential hazards.
Even as understanding prompts becomes less critical due to advancing technology, mastering them provides a foundational knowledge that could be useful in the future. It is essential that legal professionals stay abreast of changes in GAI tools to make the most of these innovations. Law schools and law firms have a major role to play in providing robust GAI training to empower legal professionals in this technological evolution.