The University of Michigan Law School has launched its AI Advisory Council, a distinguished group of alumni and leaders from across the legal profession, the technology sector, and academia. The council reflects Michigan Law’s growing engagement with artificial intelligence and its commitment to shaping how the legal profession adapts to rapidly evolving technologies.
Faculty are already engaging students at the frontier of legal and technological change through courses such as Artificial Intelligence and the Law, which explores how AI is reshaping areas from liability and intellectual property to privacy and regulation. In hands-on offerings like the AI Sandbox, students work directly with emerging tools.
A new clinical initiative led by Professors Bridgette Carr and Vivek Sankaran examines whether AI tools can help close the justice gap faced by low-income communities. Complementing this work, faculty research is beginning to demonstrate the real-world impact of AI in legal practice, including gains in efficiency and, in some cases, improvements in legal reasoning.
A common theme has emerged: the importance of pairing technological fluency with critical thinking, ethical awareness, and professional judgment. From classroom discussions about how AI risk is framed and governed to library-led initiatives that train students to evaluate AI-generated research, Michigan Law is approaching AI not simply as a tool but as a domain in which lawyers will play a central role.
The AI Advisory Council is designed to extend and sharpen this work, bringing industry insight and strategic guidance to help ensure that Michigan Law’s approach remains rigorous and responsive to a rapidly changing profession.
The council recently convened for its inaugural meeting, bringing together a wide range of perspectives to inform the Law School’s approach to AI. The discussion marked the beginning of an ongoing strategic dialogue focused on the opportunities and challenges that AI presents for legal education and practice.
The AI Advisory Council will continue to meet regularly with Law School leadership, offering guidance on curriculum, programming, and strategic priorities.
Members will also engage with students and faculty through events and other initiatives, helping to position Michigan Law as a leading voice in the evolving intersection of law and technology.
Faculty are already engaging students at the frontier of legal and technological change through courses such as Artificial Intelligence and the Law, which explores how AI is reshaping areas from liability and intellectual property to privacy and regulation. In hands-on offerings like the AI Sandbox, students work directly with emerging tools.
A new clinical initiative led by Professors Bridgette Carr and Vivek Sankaran examines whether AI tools can help close the justice gap faced by low-income communities. Complementing this work, faculty research is beginning to demonstrate the real-world impact of AI in legal practice, including gains in efficiency and, in some cases, improvements in legal reasoning.
A common theme has emerged: the importance of pairing technological fluency with critical thinking, ethical awareness, and professional judgment. From classroom discussions about how AI risk is framed and governed to library-led initiatives that train students to evaluate AI-generated research, Michigan Law is approaching AI not simply as a tool but as a domain in which lawyers will play a central role.
The AI Advisory Council is designed to extend and sharpen this work, bringing industry insight and strategic guidance to help ensure that Michigan Law’s approach remains rigorous and responsive to a rapidly changing profession.
The council recently convened for its inaugural meeting, bringing together a wide range of perspectives to inform the Law School’s approach to AI. The discussion marked the beginning of an ongoing strategic dialogue focused on the opportunities and challenges that AI presents for legal education and practice.
The AI Advisory Council will continue to meet regularly with Law School leadership, offering guidance on curriculum, programming, and strategic priorities.
Members will also engage with students and faculty through events and other initiatives, helping to position Michigan Law as a leading voice in the evolving intersection of law and technology.
