The future of legal education combines AI and a human touch

As part of the “Future-Proofing Legal Education” series within the AI and the Law Initiative, Professor Butler—Director of the Professional Law Institute (PLI) and Senior Lecturer in Law at King’s College London—spoke at IE Tower on November 3rd, delivering an engaging lecture on the growing need to integrate AI into legal education and prepare future lawyers for an increasingly tech-driven profession. 

Butler’s message was clear: The legal profession can no longer afford to stand still. For him, introducing AI into the law curriculum is an imperative, not an experiment. At the same time, he emphasized that the profession must not lose sight of the human side of legal practice. Skills such as empathy, communication and judgment are still important. The key from an educational standpoint, he said, is striking a balance between technological and human-centered skills, keeping employability at the core of the curriculum. 

Balancing AI with critical thinking 

Following his presentation, Butler engaged in a discussion with Antonio Aloisi, Associate Professor at IE Law School, and the audience. Participants voiced concern about students becoming overly reliant on technology, citing the risk of "cognitive atrophy." Butler acknowledged the danger and argued for a balanced approach. "Not every course should have AI through it." In his view, effective legal education must blend AI literacy with traditional, in-person assessments and oral presentations that test independent reasoning. 

During the discussion, Butler urged law schools to "be braver" in redefining legal education. He challenged institutions to rethink long-standing practices and adapt teaching methods to the realities of digital transformation. "That’s not an AI question, it’s an organizational one," he said, noting how difficult it can be to change deep-rooted habits within education. He also responded to a question about "going back to the roots," agreeing that despite the rise of digital skills, foundational abilities such as legal writing, research and critical thinking remain vital. 

For Butler, the question is not whether students can use AI, but whether they can understand and evaluate it. His recommendation: Start with a mandatory course that helps students grasp the principles of AI and its implications for legal reasoning, without attempting to reform every subject at once.  

Redefining competencies for the AI era 

As legal work evolves, so too must the competencies that define professional excellence. Butler argued that the lawyers of tomorrow will need more than technical expertise—they’ll need the ability to apply AI critically while exercising sound human judgment. This means combining technological understanding with the kind of real-world, experiential learning that develops empathy, communication and client awareness. 

He highlighted research by Meridian West indicating that "early exposure of young lawyers to clients massively improves their human skills and their happiness." For Butler, this is a crucial balance: Students should learn how to use AI effectively in legal analysis while grounding that knowledge in direct client interaction and reflective practice. He even argued that every law degree "should have work experience embedded as a prerequisite" to help future lawyers build those essential human skills in a meaningful way. 

Leading by example 

While industries worldwide are adapting quickly to the AI revolution, Butler noted that many law schools have been slow to act. This inertia, he suggested, creates a window of opportunity for innovative institutions. "There’s a potential competitive advantage, and there aren’t that many people playing in that space."

That leadership is precisely what IE Law School is pursuing through its AI and the Law Initiative, a platform that addresses the challenges and opportunities of AI through education, research and engagement with the legal community. The initiative integrates AI across the curriculum, promotes research focused on AI, and advances discussions with policymakers, legal professionals and the wider public. 

Butler urges other educators to embrace the challenge as well. "There are two ways to look at the world: Do I see threat or opportunity?" he said. For institutions like IE Law School, aligning legal education with technological change means preparing a new generation of legal practitioners who can bridge human insight with digital intelligence—lawyers who are ready to excel in a world shaped by AI.