Law School Creates AI-Assisted Training Program for Transactional Lawyers
The University of Virginia School of Law will launch "Deal Lab" in spring 2027, a pilot program that uses generative AI and LLM simulations to teach students transactional law. The course will let students practice deal-making in AI-driven scenarios before working with real clients.
Professor George Geis, director of the John W. Glynn Jr. Law & Business Program, is leading the effort. He described the program as a "flight simulator for students" to gain hands-on experience in contract drafting, negotiation, and deal management.
The Problem It Solves
Law schools have struggled to give transactional law students meaningful practice. Most classroom work stays theoretical. Geis said the program addresses a real gap: "It's really difficult to get students who want to do transactional law deep experience in actually practicing, doing the transactions."
Law firms themselves face pressure to integrate AI tools into their workflows. Geis spoke with firm partners who asked how to adopt AI without falling behind competitors. The school saw an opportunity to train students who could help firms navigate these decisions.
How It Works
Deal Lab will unfold in four stages over the semester. Students will first work with an AI "coach" to learn how to approach deals and draft term sheets. Next, they'll negotiate against AI tools to practice different transactional scenarios.
In the third stage, students will manage a transaction team by assigning tasks to AI agents. Finally, they'll analyze how different AI tools negotiate against each other. Geis plans to introduce unexpected changes-like deals falling through-to mirror real-world complications.
"It's almost like if you were a medical student watching a doctor operate - you'd learn from seeing what they do," Geis said.
Building the Program
An anonymous donor funded the initiative. The gift will cover summer research assistant positions for law students who will develop the program alongside Geis. The team will create detailed simulations of various deals, from bond financing to mergers and acquisitions.
Geis said the approach mirrors a startup operation. "We're going to just be rolling up our sleeves and figuring out what's possible."
Scaling Beyond 2027
Geis envisions expanding Deal Lab if the pilot succeeds. As AI for legal work becomes standard, law schools will need to teach these skills broadly.
The program won't focus on mastering one specific platform. Instead, Geis said the goal is to help students "get comfortable with whatever the cutting-edge technology is" so they can adapt as tools evolve.
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