Think, Reflect, Refine: Shaping the Modern Lawyer

Modern law students are entering the profession during an era when our society is fraught with many atrocities. These societal challenges come at a time when students are increasingly engaged in more social advocacy. Modern law students are also coming into legal training with skills and resources different from those of generations in the past. Additionally, almost daily, our newsfeeds are littered with headlines about the benefits, challenges, and fears of integrating generative artificial intelligence (“AI”) into our world. The legal system is not immune to this conversation. There have been discussions about how generative AI, such as ChatGPT, will impact courtrooms, client interactions, and law school classrooms. In light of these new changes, staying knowledgeable about emerging technology is and will continue to be a hallmark for new attorneys. Given the increased complexity of our social landscape, emerging technologies, and the strengths and weaknesses of modern law students, now - more than ever - it is paramount for legal education to ensure it is helping law students build and retain social, humanistic, and critical thinking skills as it shapes the modern lawyer.