TLDR: While some reports suggest a future where AI is mandated for certain law school application essays, the current landscape reveals a diverse approach to artificial intelligence in legal admissions and education. Institutions are grappling with policies ranging from outright bans to conditional allowances for AI in applications, even as major legal tech providers like Thomson Reuters integrate advanced AI tools into law school curricula to prepare students for an AI-driven legal profession.
The integration of artificial intelligence into the legal field is rapidly transforming both practice and pedagogy, with law schools actively defining its role in admissions and education. Recent discussions highlight a potential shift towards mandating AI use in specific law school application essays, signaling a significant evolution in how prospective legal professionals are evaluated.
However, the current reality across U.S. law schools presents a more varied picture. As of late 2023 and into 2024, institutions have adopted divergent policies regarding generative AI in application materials. For instance, Arizona State University’s Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law announced in August 2023 that it would permit applicants to use generative AI tools for drafting their applications. This allowance comes with the stipulation that applicants must disclose the use of such tools and certify the truthfulness of the submitted information. Dean Stacy Leeds of Arizona State law school noted, ‘This is just one more of the tools that is in their toolbox when they think about how to present their admissions package.’
In stark contrast, the University of Michigan Law School implemented a ban on the use of ChatGPT and similar AI tools for applications around the same period. Michigan’s revised application requires prospective students to certify that they did not employ AI in drafting their materials. Senior Assistant Dean Sarah Zearfoss acknowledged the enforceability challenges but stated, ‘in general, I’m relying on the honor of the people who apply in a million different ways, so this is no different.’ The University of California, Berkeley School of Law, in April 2023, adopted a policy allowing AI for research or grammar correction but prohibiting its use on exams or for composing submitted assignments.
Beyond admissions, AI is becoming an integral part of legal education itself. On September 24, 2025, Thomson Reuters, a global content and technology company, announced the availability of its new Gen AI-enabled legal tools—CoCounsel Legal and Deep Research from Westlaw—to U.S. law schools. These tools are designed to enhance legal research, document review, contract analysis, and legal drafting, providing students with a virtual legal assistant. This initiative, serving over 200 law schools nationwide, aims to prepare future lawyers for an evolving legal landscape where AI proficiency is increasingly crucial. Professor Dyane L. O’Leary, Director of the Legal Innovation & Technology Center at Suffolk University Law School, emphasized the importance of guiding students toward ‘appropriate and ethical use of this powerful technology in their new legal workflows,’ noting that ‘CoCounsel Legal seems more like it will become the modern lawyer’s trained and trusted law-specific thought partner and colleague.’
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The debate surrounding AI in law school applications also touches on ethical considerations and the challenge of defining ‘AI use.’ Experts suggest that a complete ban might be impractical given the pervasiveness of AI tools, even in basic word processing. The focus is shifting towards ensuring human ownership of ideas and words, while allowing AI for editing or research. As the legal profession continues to embrace AI, law schools are tasked with finding a balance that fosters innovation while upholding academic integrity and preparing students for the realities of modern legal practice.
