Trends in Legal Training Practices

The modern lawyer navigates a landscape where AI is becoming commonplace and technology tools are a given and an expectation. Yet most law schools continue teaching as though technology is merely an elective topic rather than the foundation of contemporary legal work. Consider the jarring transition: A recent graduate who mastered the intricacies of Erie Railroad v. Tompkins finds themselves unable to effectively use e-discovery platforms or understand how predictive analytics shapes case strategy. The disconnect isn't surprising when examining typical curricula. Students spend countless hours on theoretical doctrine but minimal time with the tools they'll use daily in practice. Meaningful reform requires a fundamental restructuring: A) Legal research courses should teach not only traditional methods but also advanced data analytics and natural language processing techniques that exponentially increase research efficiency. B) Evidence classes should incorporate practical training on e-discovery platforms and digital forensics alongside hearsay exceptions. C) Professional responsibility courses should address the ethical implications of algorithmic decision-making and client data privacy in a digital environment. Technology isn't merely changing how we practice law—it's redefining what it means to be a lawyer. Law schools that continue treating legal tech as peripheral rather than central to legal education aren't just doing students a disservice; they're undermining the profession's ability to effectively help others in a technological age. I'm Colin, author of The Legal Tech Ecosystem and General Counsel of Malbek, CLM for the Enterprise. #legaltech #innovation #law #business #learning

So many people have expressed concern about AI's impact on lawyer training. "𝘐𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘨 𝘭𝘢𝘸𝘺𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘥𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 (𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺'𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘥𝘰𝘯𝘦), 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯?" This is the exact same objection that has been lodged every time new technology is introduced. ⚠️ 𝐄𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐥? How will lawyers learn to write proper legal letters? ⚠️ 𝐞𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐬𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐬? How will lawyers learn how to perform document review and identify relevant evidence? ⚠️ 𝐎𝐧𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐬𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐬? How will lawyers learn to perform their own caselaw research? ⚠️ 𝐃𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧? How will lawyers learn to write contracts? In exactly 𝘯𝘰𝘯𝘦 of these scenarios has automation ultimately impeded legal training. This time, there is another consideration: 𝐰𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐯𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐮𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐞𝐱𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝. The very AI systems that naysayers fear will upend the training of young lawyers will in fact become the delivery systems for that training in the future. Even now, for those so inclined, these systems are outstanding teachers and trainers. Upload any complex document into an AI system and ask questions to make sense of it. You can already use AI to build training programs to learn a new language or to develop self-guided lessons on endless subject matters. In the future, built out properly, organizations will be able to upload checklists and process maps and offer an interface wherein junior associates can ask and learn how to do things - with not just answers but relevant learning materials pushed to them. None of this will happen organically, though. Just as professional development teams had to create training programs before, so they will have to design and build training programs that are coded into AI systems, allowing for just-in-time learning that is accessible but also oriented towards appropriate skills development depending on the practice area and seniority of the user. Flailing our arms and worrying about a loss of skills won't get us anywhere, and neither will ignoring the fact that AI is going to change the way we learn. Professional development teams should be pausing now to determine how best to upgrade learning programs given the inevitable adoption of AI by everyone in their organization. If we don't consciously develop those new systems for learning, then learning won't happen. But that will be our fault, not the AI's. #artificialintelligence #AI #law #legal #legalskills

Hot take: Law schools are still churning out litigators, but the modern corporate legal world demands more. In legal operations and in-house counsel roles, it's not enough to know the law, you have to know the business. Ironically, business schools teaching legal principles are producing grads who are better prepared for corporate legal work than many JD programs. Technology won’t replace lawyers. But lawyers who embrace technology, and who take the time to understand their company’s products, customers, markets, pricing, and strategy, will absolutely replace those who cling to traditional legal training alone. The future of legal isn’t just courtroom drama. It’s contracts, compliance, data, and commercial strategy. And the lawyers leading the charge are the ones who speak business as fluently as they speak legal.

🚀 Join us for an engaging episode of Notes to My (Legal) Self featuring the distinguished Harry Borovick, General Counsel at Luminance and lecturer at the University of Law, London. 🌟 Harry recently contributed to the pivotal discussion on Legal Operations in the Age of Data and AI, blending academic and practical expertise. In this episode, Harry explores: AI in Legal Practice: How AI is transforming the legal field. Legal Education Evolution: The necessity of integrating AI skills into legal training. Balancing Skills: Balancing traditional legal skills with emerging tech demands. Meet Harry Borovick Harry shares his unique experiences from his role at Luminance, an AI company leading legal technology innovation, and contrasts it with traditional General Counsel positions. His insights provide a comprehensive look at the future of legal practice. 🎙️ Highlights: The transformation of legal practice through AI. The importance of integrating AI into legal education. Balancing traditional legal skills with technological advancements. The role of feedback loops in developing and using AI products. Preparing law students for the complexities of modern legal practice. 💡 Learning Outcomes: AI Revolution: Understand how AI is revolutionizing legal practice and education. Skill Balance: Learn the critical balance between traditional legal skills and emerging tech demands. AI Integration: Discover the significance of integrating AI training in law schools. Adaptation Strategies: Strategies for adapting to technological changes in the legal profession. Continuous Learning: The importance of continuous learning and personal ownership in legal careers. 🔗 Don’t miss this thought-provoking discussion! Listen via the link in the comments. ❓ Questions: Do you think AI skills should be a compulsory part of legal education? How can traditional legal skills be preserved amidst the rise of AI? What impact will AI have on the legal profession in the next decade? #LegalTech #AI #LegalEducation #ContinuousLearning #LegalPractice -------- 💥 I am Olga V. Mack 🔺 AI & transformative tech expert in product counseling 🔺 Educating & upskilling human capital for digital transformation 🔺 Championing change management in legal innovation & legal operations 🔺 Keynotes on the intersection of business, law, & tech 🔝 Connect with me 🔝 Subscribe to Notes to My (Legal) Self newsletter

The Impact of AI on Legal Jobs—and the Upskilling Gap This is the first entry in a three parts. AI is rapidly transforming the legal industry. The Thomson Reuters 2025 Generative AI in Professional Services Report indicates” a large proportion (41%) of respondents said they personally use publicly-available tools such as ChatGPT, and 17% said they personally use industry-specific GenAI tools.”  The report notes that while only 13% or respondents said that Gen AI was central to their workflow,” an additional 29% believe it will be central within the next year. Further, 95% of all respondents believe it will be central to their organization’s workflow within the next five years." However, this transformation brings significant staffing challenges. The World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2023 found that 41% of employers plan to reduce staff in roles where skills are becoming less relevant due to automation and AI. In the legal sector, this means some tasks like document review, basic drafting, precedent searching, compiling documents and crafting email will increasingly be automated and streamlined, putting pressure on professionals to adapt. Despite the urgency, upskilling efforts are lagging. The 2025 ACEDS + Secretariat Legal AI Report reveals that while 80% of legal professionals now rate themselves as knowledgeable about AI, only 36% of organizations have formal AI upskilling programs in place. Similarly, The Thomson 2025 report notes that “nearly two-thirds (64%)” of respondents said they had received “no GenAI training at work”. The bottom line: While AI is set to reshape legal work, a lack of structured upskilling programs could leave many attorneys and staff behind, and organizations scrambling for talent.  Legal organizations must prioritize comprehensive, ongoing AI education to to minimize impact on their staff and business and ensure their teams are ready for the future. What upskilling efforts are you seeing being implemented and have they been successful?