Michigan Law Creates AI Advisory Council to Guide Legal Education
The University of Michigan Law School has launched an AI Advisory Council bringing together 24 alumni and leaders from law firms, tech companies, and academia. The council will advise the school on curriculum, research, and how to prepare students for a profession being reshaped by artificial intelligence.
The move reflects what's already underway at Michigan Law. Faculty teach courses on AI and the law, covering liability, intellectual property, privacy, and regulation. Students work with emerging tools in an AI Sandbox. A new clinical program led by Professors Bridgette Carr and Vivek Sankaran examines whether AI can help close the justice gap for low-income communities.
Research at the school is beginning to document real-world gains: AI tools improve efficiency in legal work and, in some cases, strengthen legal reasoning. But a consistent theme has emerged across these efforts. Technological fluency alone isn't enough. Students need critical thinking, ethical awareness, and professional judgment to use these tools responsibly.
"The legal profession is being reshaped in real time by advances in artificial intelligence," said Neel U. Sukhatme, dean of the law school. "Our responsibility is to prepare students not only to understand these tools but to use them thoughtfully and ethically in service of clients and the rule of law."
The council held its inaugural meeting recently, bringing perspectives from senior roles at Microsoft, Google, Meta, Ford, and major law firms. Mary E. Snapp, a senior fellow at Microsoft and council chair, framed the dual challenge: "The opportunity is to ensure that lawyers are equipped to use these tools to better serve their clients; the responsibility is to question those same tools, improve them, and understand their limits."
Council members will meet regularly with law school leadership and engage with students and faculty through events. The group includes Michael H. Rubin, global chair of artificial intelligence at Latham & Watkins, and Daniel W. Linna Jr., director of law and technology initiatives at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law.
For lawyers looking to build practical skills, AI for Legal covers how these tools apply to research, document review, contract analysis, and compliance. Those working in support roles can explore the AI Learning Path for Paralegals, which focuses on document automation and legal research applications.
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