Artificial intelligence won’t kill the law degree. It will redefine it

Artificial intelligence won’t kill the law degree. It will redefine it

https://www.smh.com.au/education/ai-won-t-kill-the-law-degree-it-will-redefine-it-20260420-p5zpd5.html

Publish Date: 2026-04-20 05:30:00

Source Domain: www.smh.com.au

• AI’s Impact on Professional Tasks: Mustafa Suleyman, CEO of Microsoft AI, asserts that AI is nearing human-level performance in many professional areas and predicts full automation of white-collar tasks within 12 to 18 months.

• Legal Education’s Role: Despite AI’s advancements, the importance of legal education remains due to the complex human skills imparted, such as judgment, empathy, and ethical reasoning, which AI struggles to replicate.

• Adaptation of Legal Education: The University of Sydney Law School is integrating techno-legal fluency into its core programs to prepare lawyers for AI’s growing influence.

• Skills Needed for Law Graduates:

  1. Understanding AI’s mechanisms and limitations.
  2. Grasping AI’s funding, governance, and societal impact.
  3. Evaluating AI tools’ utility and limitations in legal practice.
  4. Navigating changing responsibilities and the ethical implications of AI in legal work.

• Importance of Human Capacities: Law graduates need to possess human competencies, such as cultural competence and empathy, to work alongside technology, collaborating effectively with diverse expertise groups.