Artificial intelligence and legal education: from the traditional classroom to the smart

Abstract

Law, as an area of knowledge traditionally associated with formalism, conceptual rigidity, and resistance to change, has historically been reluctant to incorporate technological innovations into its methods of analysis, interpretation, and application. However, the rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) and its growing impact on all spheres of human activity has begun to strain this resistance, demanding urgent adaptation on the part of regulatory systems and, especially, institutions that train legal professionals. The field of education, and in particular the teaching of law, now faces the challenge of abandoning exclusively traditional approaches in order to incorporate new methodologies focused on technology and innovation. This paper proposes a critical reflection on the need to integrate AI-based tools into the law teaching-learning process in order to prepare future lawyers for a professional environment increasingly permeated by emerging technologies. In this regard, the training opportunities offered by these tools are highlighted, but important ethical, pedagogical, and institutional challenges that must be considered to ensure responsible implementation are also identified. It emphasizes the need to incorporate these technologies while taking into account the fundamental role that human beings must play, the importance of academic integrity, equity in access, and the need to develop critical-reflective digital skills in both teachers and students. Likewise, it advocates for a training approach that is not only instrumental but also critical, ethical, and reflective, ensuring that artificial intelligence is at the service of justice and responsible professional development.