The University of Georgia School of Law will require students to complete a technology course and has banned electronic devices in most first-year courses, starting with the upcoming academic year. The move places the school among a growing list of U.S. law schools adjusting curricula to reflect how technology now shapes legal practice.
The required course, which has not yet been formally titled, will cover legal research databases, data privacy, cybersecurity, and the ethical questions raised by artificial intelligence in legal work. The school's faculty endorsed the initiative, pointing to a gap in traditional legal education that the course aims to fill.
Device policy and classroom engagement
The ban on electronic devices in first-year courses is meant to cut down on distractions and encourage participation in class discussions. Exceptions will be made for students with documented disabilities or approved accommodations.
Faculty members said the policy addresses a gap in legal training that has grown more obvious as courts and firms adopt digital tools. Students have had mixed responses, with some questioning how practical the device ban will be and others worried about the extra workload of a required course.
Wider trend among law schools
Several top-tier law schools have adopted similar requirements in recent years as employers look for attorneys who are comfortable with digital tools. The University of Georgia plan also includes an annual review of the device policy, and administrators said they intend to keep it flexible as technology and student needs evolve.
The curriculum change is part of a wider push in legal education to prepare graduates for work that depends on digital research skills and an understanding of data rules. AI tools now regularly appear in case research, contract review, and due diligence - work that law students will be expected to handle on day one.
Why this matters for legal professionals
Lawyers already in practice should expect entry-level hires to have more structured technology training than just a few years ago, which will change how firms assign research and document review work. The University of Georgia's annual review of its policy also gives working lawyers a reason to track how law schools update their approach as new tools emerge.
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