Applications Now Open (Limited Spots) – Application Deadline: June 13, 2025
Explore the Future of AI & the Law—Before Law School Begins
Are you an aspiring law student, pre-law undergraduate, or career changer interested in the intersection of law and technology? Join us this summer for WashU’s AI & the Future of Law program, an online program from WashU Law designed to introduce you to the fast-evolving role of artificial intelligence in the legal profession.
This 5-week program combines live instruction with real-world insights on how AI is reshaping legal practice—from litigation and contracts to research, compliance, and ethics.
Participants who complete the program and pass a final assessment will earn a credential certificate issued by WashU Law.
Program Overview
- Dates: June 24 – July 22, 2025
- Live Sessions: Tuesdays, 7:00–8:30 PM CT | 8:00–9:30 PM ET
- Location: Online (Zoom)
- Credential: Issued upon passing a 1-hour multiple-choice exam
- Cost: $ 399
Who Should Apply?
- Pre-law students exploring the future of legal careers
- College students considering law school
- Career changers with an interest in law, policy, and technology
- Anyone seeking to understand how AI is transforming the legal system
What You’ll Learn
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.
- Earn a certificate credential by completing a final AI-and-law knowledge assessment.
Weekly Schedule (Live Sessions)
Week
Date
Topic
Session Overview
Week 1
June 24
Intro to AI and LLMs in Legal Practice
Learn about important AI terminology (machine learning, neural networks, LLMs); how generative AI works; capabilities and limits of tools like ChatGPT; and how AI is transforming the legal field.
Week 2
July 1
Best Practices for Prompt Engineering in Legal Practice
Learn about the best techniques for prompting AI models; understanding and improving AI outputs; reducing hallucinations; and critically assessing AI outputs.
Week 3
July 8
Use and Ethical Considerations of AI in Legal Practice
Learn about how AI tools are used in legal practice, including in eDiscovery, case summarization, legal research, and deposition prep. Review lawyer’s ethical responsibilities when using AI in practice.
Week 4
July 15
AI Regulation & Litigation Across the U.S.
Examine how AI is regulated at federal and state levels and analyze the legal, societal, and ethical implications of AI.
Week 5
July 15-22
Credentialing Exam
Asynchronous exam, available after the final session.
Credentialing Exam
- Format: 1-hour multiple-choice exam (approx. 40–50 questions)
- Opens: Tuesday July 15 (after the final session)
- Closes: Tuesday July 22
- Result: Certificate credential awarded to students scoring 80% or higher
About the Program’s Professor
Oliver Roberts is an Adjunct Professor of Law at Washington University in St. Louis School of Law and Co-Director of the WashU Law AI Collaborative. He is also Co-Head of the AI Practice Group at Holtzman Vogel law firm, Editor-in-Chief of the AI & the Law publication at The National Law Review, and the Founder and CEO of Wickard.ai. Oliver regularly lectures on AI at law schools throughout the United States and internationally. His recent teaching includes the course “AI & the Practice of Law” at WashU Law, the nation’s first required AI law school course at Case Western Reserve School of Law, and the first legal AI education program at Addis Ababa University School of Law in Ethiopia. Oliver graduated from Harvard Law School and Villanova University. Before founding Wickard.ai, Oliver practiced at Skadden Arps and Jones Day and previously founded a technology startup focused on employment solutions.
Apply Now
Admission to the WashU Law Pre-Law Summer Program: AI & the Future 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 $399. 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 are open and reviewed on a rolling basis.
Deadline to apply: June 11, 2025
For questions, contact: oroberts@wustl.edu