The Legalpreneurs Sandbox

Episode 202: Future 50 Series - Breaking New Ground in Legal Education – Vanderbilt Law School’s AI Lab

Nov 26, 2024

Mark Williams, Founding Co-Director of the Vanderbilt AI Law Lab, shares insights from his diverse journey through journalism, law, and politics. He discusses how the AI Lab is reshaping legal education, equipping future lawyers with essential tech skills for a rapidly changing landscape. The conversation underscores the importance of digital literacy and interdisciplinary collaboration in preparing students for AI-driven legal practices. Mark highlights the need for curiosity and experimentation in embracing innovation within the legal profession.

44:57

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Mark Williams

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Quick takeaways

Vanderbilt Law School’s AI Lab employs a hands-on, multidisciplinary approach to legal education, merging technology with practical applications for future lawyers.

The rising demand for digital and data literacy among attorneys highlights the necessity for continuous learning to adapt to evolving legal practices.

Deep dives

Mark Williams' Unique Path to Legal AI

Mark Williams transitioned from a journalism career to becoming a co-director at Vanderbilt AI Law Lab by leveraging the skills he developed along his journey. Initially trained in journalism, he faced challenges in the legal job market after graduating law school during the economic crisis of 2008, prompting him to return to journalism. Through this experience, he honed his ability to simplify complex topics and adapt to rapid changes in the industry, witnessing firsthand the transformation of print journalism in the digital age. His diverse background has allowed him to blend legal knowledge with technological innovation, ultimately leading him to the intersection of law and AI.

Intro

2min

Navigating AI and Legal Education

22min

The Crucial Role of Digital and Data Literacy in Legal Education

3min

Interdisciplinary Legal Education

10min

The Evolution of Legal Service Delivery: A Future Perspective

3min

Embracing Curiosity: The Key to Legal Innovation through AI

4min

In this session, we spoke with Mark Williams, a Founding Co-Director of the Vanderbilt AI Law Lab (VAILL) and a Professor of the Practice of Law at the AIGP.

Mark has come to AI via journalism, law, sometime in the political world and knowledge management. In many respects, his work now draws on that rich professional and personal life experience.

Today, Mark is deeply immersed in working with and educating future generations of lawyers through the AI Law Lab. The Lab is a hands-on, multidisciplinary, experiential learning opportunity at Vanderbilt Law School (VLS).

The VLS AI Law Lab is preparing law graduates for the next generation of legal practice and leadership. It’s modelling a different way of teaching and learning in partnership with industry - one that is comfortable with experimentation and supports students in understanding the tech, its limitations and opportunities, from the ground up.

VLS’s has a long history in transformative legal education, especially in the tech/AI space. We chatted with Mark about that too i.e., what drives VLS’s leadership, mindset, and comfort with embracing new, different, and supporting their graduates to do that too…their secret sauce!

We wrapped this conversation by discussing the broader impact of AI education in the legal industry - the importance of digital and data literacy and, if we have arrived, or still edging towards, a different type of legal practice.

Don’t miss this spotlight, if you haven’t engaged with AI before now, this will be your catalyst to start your journey today!

If you would prefer to watch rather than listen to this podcast, you’ll find the video here.

About the Future 50 Series

In the Future 50 Series we’re chatting with legalpreneurs who, through their ideas and actions, are challenging and transforming legal BAU all around the world.

If you would like to recommend people for this Series, please contact us at: CLI@collaw.edu.au.