AI Competence Crash Course

Generative AI is changing the practice of law, and tasks that once served as the training ground for new lawyers (first-pass research, document review, and routine drafting) are increasingly automated. This program explores what that shift means for law students about to enter the profession and how they can develop the skills and judgment needed to succeed. The panel will discuss where the members think the profession is heading, including the growing argument that the duty of technological competence may eventually require lawyers to use AI, not merely permit it, and offer strategies for building real legal judgment as the traditional apprenticeship model changes, and for turning AI fluency into a market niche that makes a new attorney valuable to their firm or practice area from day one. Along the way, the panel will provide a practical primer on how generative AI works and what competent and responsible use looks like in practice, including verifying outputs, protecting client confidences, recognizing limitations and potential errors, and knowing when human judgment must take over.