The University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law launched the Delta Institute for AI and the Law, a new initiative designed to bring AI literacy and practical technology access to courts, legal professionals, and litigants. The institute, called DIAL, arrives as law firms, government agencies, and courts face mounting pressure to understand and apply artificial intelligence tools in daily practice.
DIAL will produce applied legal research, policy guidance, and hands-on education. The work targets equitable AI use across the legal system while preparing law students to enter practice with the skills to use these tools responsibly.
Community focus sets the institute apart
Debra Ireland, interim director for DIAL, said the institute's community focus distinguishes it from other legal entities working on AI and the law. The commitment extends beyond law students to attorneys already handling active caseloads.
"DIAL's commitment to integrating AI into legal practice goes beyond ensuring law students are simply proficient and extends to lawyers already in practice who may not have the resources to become adept on their own while balancing their current caseloads," Ireland said.
Jim Strickland, dean of Memphis Law, said the timing is critical. "With courts, government agencies, law firms, corporations and policymakers increasingly requiring practical guidance and applied research addressing new AI applications in the legal field, DIAL and The University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law are uniquely positioned to become a nationally recognized hub for research and innovation."
Projects already underway
The institute has several projects in development. One is an AI lab where law students with AI fluency will show practicing attorneys how to use available AI for Legal tools to better serve their clients. DIAL is also launching an AI and Internet Law Legal Certificate Program. For legal professionals looking to build these skills systematically, a dedicated AI Learning Path for Paralegals offers structured training in document review and legal research workflows.
Why this matters for legal professionals
DIAL's model addresses a gap that many working attorneys face: the need to learn AI tools while managing full caseloads, often without the budget or time for formal training. The institute's AI lab, where students train practitioners, creates a direct pipeline between emerging technical skills and the lawyers who need them now. For firms and solo practitioners watching the AI conversation accelerate without a clear entry point, this represents a concrete resource rather than another abstract call to adapt.
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