This February, WashU law is welcoming aspiring law students to explore the intersection of artificial intelligence and the legal profession through its Winter 2027 Pre-Law Program, “AI & the Practice of Law.”
The inaugural summer program received strong feedback from participants. Of the 15 students who took part, 93.3% rated the experience as highly or very valuable, said it met or exceeded their expectations, and indicated they were likely or highly likely to recommend it to future students.
WashU Law will offer the online course February 7 – March 7, 2027. The program gives prospective law students an opportunity to develop a foundation in legal practice while examining how artificial intelligence is changing legal research, litigation, contract analysis and the delivery of legal services.
The program is taught by Oliver Roberts, Co-Director of the WashU Law AI Collaborative and Adjunct Professor at WashU Law. Participants will analyze legal cases, work with AI-powered legal tools and consider the practical and ethical questions that arise as these technologies become more prevalent in the profession. No prior legal or technical experience is required.
The course concludes with a credentialing exam and a final project in which participants develop their own legal technology solutions. Students who attend all sessions and pass the exam will earn a Pre-Law Certificate in AI and the Practice of Law from WashU Law.
The program is part of WashU Law’s broader commitment to legal AI education and innovation. Through the WashU Law AI Collaborative, the school has developed a growing range of initiatives, including specialized AI courses, first-year curriculum integration, AI fellowships, a Legal Tech Advisory Board, continuing legal education for attorneys, and AI training for judges and courts.
