Southwestern Law School launches schoolwide AI & Law program for J.D. and LL.M. students
Southwestern Law School is rolling out a schoolwide program focused on how artificial intelligence is used in legal practice. Introduction to AI & Law debuts in 2026 and is open to all J.D. and LL.M. students, developed in partnership with Wickard.ai.
The program gives students hands-on exposure to how AI supports research, drafting, and litigation support-while tackling the ethical and professional responsibility issues that come with it. The emphasis is practical skills over theory.
Why this matters for legal employers
"Employers increasingly expect new lawyers to understand how artificial intelligence is used in legal research, drafting, and other core legal workflows, as well as the ethical and professional responsibility obligations that accompany its use," said Dean Darby Dickerson. "Through this program, Southwestern Law School is ensuring that our students graduate with the knowledge and practical awareness needed to be practice ready in an AI enabled legal profession."
This aligns with the profession's duty of technology competence under the ABA Model Rule 1.1. Expect graduates to speak clearly about use cases, risks, and safeguards-not just tool features.
What students will learn
Instruction centers on real legal workflows and risk management-how to use AI responsibly and verify outcomes.
- AI-enabled legal research and drafting
- Litigation support and work-product acceleration
- Risk controls: hallucinations, confidentiality, and professional responsibility
Students practice with concrete scenarios and develop judgment about where AI helps, where it fails, and how to document decisions.
Built with Wickard.ai, building on 2025 training
The offering builds on a 2025 collaboration in which Wickard.ai delivered AI training for Southwestern's Parris Academy for Excellence in Law & Leadership. "Southwestern Law School has long been ahead of the curve on innovation in legal education, and this program is a natural extension of that leadership," said Oliver Roberts, CEO and Founder of Wickard.ai and instructor for Introduction to AI & Law. "Dean Dickerson and Southwestern have demonstrated a clear commitment to ensuring that students are prepared for AI in modern legal practice."
Credential that signals readiness
Students who complete the course earn Southwestern's Law & Generative AI badge. The credential can be listed on resumes and professional profiles and signals verified training in AI-related legal skills and the current legal and ethical considerations tied to use.
Practical takeaways for legal teams and students
- For students: treat this as core professional prep-pressure-test AI on real assignments, track sources, and build a repeatable review process.
- For hiring partners and legal ops: use the badge as a baseline indicator of AI literacy and risk awareness aligned with frameworks such as the NIST AI Risk Management Framework.
To keep sharpening practical skills in research, drafting, and litigation support, explore AI for Legal.
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