As innovation and technology continue to affect the world, the legal profession continues to respond. USC's Joseph F. Rice School of Law offers a program to prepare future lawyers for a changing legal environment.
Third-year law student Lauren O'Steen said she took several classes in the technology law program after becoming interested in the subject during her first year. According to O'Steen, one of the best ways lawyers can help people is by embracing new technologies in their practices.
"I like to think that lawyers' ultimate goal is to help people and make the world a better place," O'Steen said. "And to do so, you have to work with the world as it is. And there have always been new technologies."
According to O'Steen, AI is changing law firms' business models and clarifying what is truly necessary. There is a need for human judgment in law, as well as learning the ethics behind AI use, she said.
"How do we protect people, and how do we use what we already have to inform what's going forward?" O'Steen said. "It's more about teaching how to respond as a leader, as someone who's trying to keep people safe and help the world improve."
Second-year law student Alex Teodorescu also noted the need for the ethical use of AI and for learning about the security risks posed by emerging technologies. Billions of dollars are being invested in the research and development of AI models, leading to several implications for the practice of law, according to Teodorescu.
"Because it's such a new technology, there's not a lot of regulation or governance over it, so it's creating a void where a lot of lawyers are needed," Teodorescu said.
Gary Moore, assistant dean for academic technology and executive director for the TechInLaw collaborative, explained how technology is affecting legal practices and other disciplines. The school is attempting to promote technology and innovation both within the law school and across the university, according to Moore.
"We wanted to work on expanding the curriculum and technology law and work with the community (and) students on initiatives, reach out to schools as we did with the Walker Institute," Moore said.
One of the goals of this outreach is to help attorneys see the importance of technology competency, according to Moore. That was the original goal of the program amid the changing technology and innovation, Moore said.
However, the program has grown in popularity and relevance, now hosting faculty whom Moore has labeled as experts. O'Steen said she has had many opportunities from her professors to hear different perspectives on technology law and gain hands-on experience. In particular, she noted Dean William C. Hubbard and his impact on the curriculum.
"Dean Hubbard realizes the importance of technology and law and students as future lawyers being prepared to go into the law field as it exists today and as it's going to exist in the future," O'Steen said.
According to O'Steen, a large part of what lawyers do is apply old doctrine to current times, and this has been more evident with technology and innovation. Because of this, the law school is helping prepare students for future careers both in and out of the classroom, according to Moore.
"It's important because what we hear from employers is that they want students prepared for using AI in practice and understanding the ethical considerations of using it," Moore said.
Even with the focus on technology and the changing legal landscape, students like Teodorescu are looking forward to future careers for reasons beyond innovation.
"If you want to make a change in your community, getting involved in law is one of the best ways to do it," Teodorescu said. "You actually get to see the impact of your work."