WashU Law Pre-Law Summer Program:
AI & the Practice of Law
WashU Law is a leader in legal AI education and innovation. Through the WashU Law AI Collaborative, WashU Law has built a dynamic and nationally distinctive AI ecosystem that includes specialized AI courses, first-year curriculum integration, AI fellowships, Legal Tech Week programming, a Legal Tech Advisory Board, continuing legal education for attorneys, and specialized AI training for judges and courts.
After launching one of the nation’s first law school programs focused on Artificial Intelligence and the Practice of Law in early 2025, WashU Law expanded its leadership with new AI courses, broader student programming, and public-facing legal education initiatives. Last summer, WashU Law also launched one of the first pre-law summer programs in the nation devoted specifically to AI and the future of the legal profession. Student feedback from that inaugural program was overwhelmingly positive: 93.3% rated it highly or very valuable, 93.3% said it met or exceeded expectations, and 93.3% said they were likely or highly likely to recommend it to future students. WashU Law is now offering that program again for aspiring law students seeking an early advantage in understanding both legal practice and the technologies reshaping it.
Program Details
Taught live by WashU Law adjunct professor Oliver Roberts, Co-Director of the WashU Law AI Collaborative, this unique course introduces participants to the foundations of legal practice while also exploring how AI is transforming legal research, litigation, contract analysis, and the broader delivery of legal services. Participants will analyze cases, work with legal AI tools, and examine the practical and ethical questions that increasingly define modern lawyering.
Dates: June 7 – July 10, 2026
Time: Sundays, 7:00 – 8:30 PM CT / 8:00 – 9:30 PM ET
Location: Online (Live Zoom Sessions)
Eligible Participants: This program is open to college seniors, incoming 1L students at any law school, pre-law undergraduates, and career changers who are planning to apply to law school and have an interest in the intersection of law, technology, and artificial intelligence. No prior legal or technical experience is required.
Credentialing Requirements: Attendance at all sessions and passing score on asynchronous exam (1-hour multiple choice). The program culminates in a credentialing exam and final project in which participants will develop their own legal technology solutions. Participants who successfully complete the course and exam will earn a Pre-Law Certificate in AI and the Practice of Law from WashU Law.
Questions about the AI & the Practice of Law Summer Program? Please contact Oliver Roberts.
Program Objectives
By the end of this program, students will be able to:
- Understand the core concepts behind artificial intelligence and large language models (LLMs).
- Use best practices for crafting legal prompts and understand the limits of AI outputs.
- Analyze how AI tools are already reshaping both litigation and transactional legal practice.
- Recognize emerging legal and regulatory challenges posed by AI at both state and federal levels.
- Explore current and future litigation risks surrounding AI development and deployment.
- Build confidence in navigating AI’s impact on the legal profession, policy, and access to justice.
Week 1
Sunday, June 7
Introduction to AI & the Legal Profession
7:00 pm – 8:30 pm CT
Core AI terms (machine learning, neural networks, LLMs); how generative AI works; capabilities and limits of tools like ChatGPT; how AI is changing the legal profession.
Week 2
Sunday, June 14
Effective Prompting in Legal Practice
7:00 pm – 8:30 pm CT
Best techniques and practices for using AI chatbots; assessment of hallucinations and risks of using AI; best practices for using AI in legal practice
Week 3
Sunday, June 21
AI in Legal Practice: Ethical Considerations & Applications
7:00 pm – 8:30 pm CT
Live demonstrations of leading legal AI tools, hands-on assignments, review of ethics guidance, and discussion of professional responsibility.
Week 4
Sunday, June 28
AI Regulation, Litigation, and Societal Implications
7:00 pm – 8:30 pm CT
Overview of emerging policy, legislation, and broader societal implications of AI
Week 5
July 5-10
Exam Week & Final Project Due
Final examination and final project (vibecoding legal tech solutions)
Credentialing Exam and Final Project
- Format: 1-hour multiple-choice exam (approx. 40–50 questions)
- Final Project: Vibe coded project developing a legal tech solution
- Opens: Monday July 5 @ 9:00 AM C.T.
- Closes: Friday July 10 @ 6:00 PM C.T.
- Result: Credential of Completion issued for students scoring 80%+
Application Process
Admission to the WashU Law Pre-Law Summer Program: AI & the Practice of Law is highly selective and designed for motivated, forward-thinking students who are preparing for the future of legal education and practice. We limit the number of participants to ensure a high-quality, interactive experience with personalized attention during live instruction. The cost for the program is $895.
We recognize that financial barriers should not prevent qualified students from participating. Limited need-based tuition support may be available for selected applicants. You may indicate interest in financial consideration during the application process.
Applications must be submitted through our online portal here: Application Form
- Deadline to Apply: May 22, 2026 @ 5:00 pm CT
- Early Decision Deadline: May 11, 2026 @ 5:00 pm CT
- Decisions Released: Rolling basis starting May 1, 2026
Apply early to secure your spot—seats are limited, and the program is expected to reach capacity prior to the deadline.
Disclaimer: This program is offered solely as an optional, non-credit educational experience. Participation does not confer academic credit and does not provide any advantage, preference, or consideration in the admissions process at WashU Law, including with respect to admission, waitlist status, or scholarships. Participation in the program does not grant access to WashU Law student services, facilities, or resources, including library services.