Washington University School of Law announces the launch of new courses at the intersection of law and artificial intelligence to further our leadership in preparing lawyers for the future of practice.
Building on the success of Artificial Intelligence and the Practice of Law, these new courses explore some of the most urgent issues at the intersection of AI and the legal system from algorithmic bias, privacy, and intellectual property to the judiciary’s own use of generative AI. Students will not only study the emerging doctrines shaping this fast-moving field but also engage directly with the ethical, regulatory, and practical challenges that AI presents for lawyers, judges, and policymakers. Through cross-listed courses, clinics, and interdisciplinary collaboration, WashU Law continues to ensure that our graduates not only understand the technology shaping the profession but also lead the conversations that define it.
Artificial Intelligence and Law
Professor Ryan Durrie
This advanced course explores the multifaceted legal challenges arising from the rapid evolution and deployment of artificial intelligence. Students will examine pressing issues including algorithmic bias and antidiscrimination law, privacy and data protection, intellectual property in AI systems, product liability in autonomous technologies, and consumer protection against deceptive AI practices.
AI and the Judiciary
Adjunct Professors Judge Joshua Deahl, District of Columbia Court of Appeals, and Oliver Roberts, Co-Director of the WashU Law AI Collaborative
This one-credit course investigates the judiciary’s use—and misuse—of artificial intelligence. Students will analyze how courts, judges, and attorneys engage with AI, including recent high-profile cases where judicial reliance on generative AI led to withdrawn opinions. Through doctrinal analysis, ethical debate, and hands-on simulations, students will evaluate real and AI-generated opinions, examine court policies, and propose frameworks for responsible judicial AI use.
With these offerings, WashU Law continues to prepare graduates to navigate and lead in a rapidly changing legal landscape.