AI and the Future of Law

Can AI make the nation’s largest trial court more accessible, trusted, and just? In this episode, LA Superior Court CEO, David Slayton joins hosts Jen Leonard and Bridget Mary McCormack to unpack how generative AI is already reshaping court services—and why “effective” beats “efficient.” We explore Court Help on LACourt.gov, change-management tactics that stick, and the delicate balance between moving too slowly (and getting overwhelmed) and too fast (and losing public trust). Practical, candid, and grounded in real operations, this conversation offers a roadmap for legal leaders navigating AI.Topics covered:Court Help and responsible gen-AI designServing self-represented litigants at scaleChange management in high-trust institutionsRisks of moving too slow—or too fast—on AIPredictive analytics, triage, and future workflows

Can an AI fairly decide a dispute—and win party trust? Recorded live at MAICON 2025, this episode dives into the American Arbitration Association’s first AI arbitrator, a documents-only two-party workflow designed for construction cases with a human in the loop. AAA President Bridget McCormack explains the multi-agent architecture, why procedural fairness matters, and how the tool reflects a century of arbitration expertise. We also unpack OpenAI’s Sora 2 rollout, likeness/IP controversies, and the shift from opt-out to permission-first models—and what deepfakes mean for courts and the rule of law.Topics covered:How AAA’s AI arbitrator works (and when to use it)Human oversight, speed, and cost gainsSora 2’s IP backlash and policy reversalDeepfakes, watermarking limits, and courtroom risk

How should law schools teach judgment, writing, and readiness in the age of AI? Georgetown’s Jonah Perlin and Suffolk’s Dyane O’Leary join hosts Jen Leonard and Bridget McCormack to explore how generative AI is reshaping legal education—from 1L writing and grading to ethics, policy, and professional judgment.They share real classroom experiments that reveal how professors are using AI to teach reasoning and curiosity, and how schools are balancing innovation with integrity through redesigned assessments and “AI literacy” curricula. The conversation also dives into multimodal and voice-based tools transforming how students learn, communicate, and prepare for modern practice.Topics covered:How AI is transforming legal writing and pedagogyGrading, integrity, and fairness in the AI eraWhat “practice-ready” means for future lawyersThe rise of multimodal and voice-driven learningBuilding judgment and curiosity through AI

Can state‑court judges safely use generative AI? In this episode, Jen Leonard and Bridget McCormack unpack Pennsylvania’s interim policy for courts—what it allows, what it restricts, and how human review and confidentiality guardrails work in practice. They compare real AI workflows from their own desks—editing a book with Claude and turning a long essay into slides—and dissect the “AI pilots are failing” storyline versus the reality of high adoption and slower ROI. You’ll also hear why court labs, enterprise access, and judge‑focused guidelines matter now.We cover:Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s interim AI policy and guardrailsAI Aha!: Claude as editor; ChatGPT vs. Claude vs. Gemini for slidesMIT “AI pilots” narrative vs. actual adoption and ROI timelinesCourt “AI labs,” enterprise licenses, and chatbots for self‑represented litigantsMichigan pilot with Learned Hand and practical guidance for judgesEpisode Highlights:02:56 AI Aha! Moments10:10 What Just Happened: MIT Report21:55 Main Topic: PA Supreme Court’s Interim AI policy

What does it take to modernize a 100-year-old legal institution and prepare lawyers for the AI era? In this episode, Jen Leonard and Bridget McCormack sit down with Jae Um (Lumio) and Ilona Logvinova (Cleary Gottlieb) to explore how legal organizations move from AI experiments to real impact. From acquisitions and change management to digital agents and legal education reform, this conversation breaks down what actually drives innovation in law.We cover:Practical AI workflows and tools in legal practiceCulture, incentives, and strategy in firm innovationInorganic vs. organic growth (acquisitions and beyond)Digital agents and the future of early-career legal workHow law schools must evolve for AI-native practiceEpisode Highlights:02:15 AI Aha! Moments10:39 Inorganic Growth & Innovation Strategy32:50 Law Schools & Learning in the AI Era

Is GPT-5 good enough to practice law? This episode dives into OpenAI’s newest model and its implications for legal practice, including how it compares to previous models and where human oversight remains essential. Jen Leonard and Bridget McCormack also unpack a groundbreaking report from IAALS on regulating AI in legal services, shifting the focus from lawyers to consumers.Episode Highlights:(2:22) AI Aha! Moments: AI and human error in court(12:52) What Just Happened: Key features and legal benchmarks of GPT-5(20:50) IAALS phased approach to AI oversight(28:13) How courts and communities are adapting to AI toolsRead the IAALS report on regulating AI in law here: https://iaals.du.edu/sites/default/files/documents/publications/ulr_regulating_ai.pdf