Shaping the Future of AI and Law
Artificial intelligence is transforming how lawyers advocate, advise, and shape policy. At Syracuse University College of Law, we prepare students to meet this moment—integrating AI into our coursework, faculty research, and experiential learning opportunities. From national security and ethics to innovation in legal practice, Syracuse Law equips tomorrow’s lawyers to lead in an AI-powered world.
AI in the Classroom and Beyond
Syracuse Law is expanding our curriculum to integrate AI into our courses, residencies, and practical learning experiences that prepare students for the realities of modern legal practice.
Faculty participate in regularly scheduled workshops and trainings to stay current with AI developments and pedagogical best practices, ensuring they can effectively guide students in this rapidly evolving landscape.
Students receive direct instruction on using AI tools in legal research, practice applying them in legal analysis and writing, and engage with essential questions about how AI is transforming the profession—all while studying its implications through the lens of ethical and competent legal advocacy.
AI Courses
- The Intersection of Law and Artificial Intelligence (Fall 2025) residency course taught by Professor Jack Graves
- Artificial Intelligence Law and Ethics (Spring 2026), taught by Professor Mary Szto
- AI, Synthetic Biology, Emerging Technologies and Global Security, taught by the Hon. James E. Baker
- AI in the National Security Research Center, taught by Professor Laurie Hobart
Law Firms in the AI Generation: Fall 2025 Guest Speaker
Jen Berrent, CEO of Covenant, led a conversation on how artificial intelligence is transforming legal practice and reshaping the future of law firms. Berrent, drawing from her experience as both a lawyer and CEO, provided insights into the evolving AI landscape and discussed its implications for lawyers, clients, and the delivery of legal services in the coming years.
AI in Faculty Scholarship
Discover how our faculty are exploring AI’s power to transform legal practice and strengthen public institutions. Their scholarship leads national conversations and drives meaningful change in courts, communities, and national security.
- Professor Gouldin’s team received a $600,000 grant to create an AI scheduling system for criminal courts that considers defendants’ individual circumstances—like work, childcare, and transportation—to reduce missed appearances and improve fairness. The multi-disciplinary project aims to make court-date scheduling more equitable and efficient through a forward-looking application of AI in the justice system.
- Professor Milner’s article surveys the rules that states have developed about when and what their intermediate appellate courts write. It also considers why states limit the writing of their intermediate appellate courts. The paper highlights why rules about appellate court writing matter, how AI may influence those choices, and what writing means for accuracy, transparency, and the future of state court appellate justice.
- Professor Hobart’s article examines how AI systems used in national security can unintentionally scale human biases, creating urgent civil-rights challenges our current legal frameworks aren’t equipped to address. Her work not only highlights these gaps but also offers paths forward for advocates seeking stronger protections in the age of AI.
- In February 2023, the Federal Judicial Center (FJC) published An Introduction to Artificial Intelligence for Federal Judges, written by the Hon. James E. Baker, Professor Laurie Hobart and Research Fellow Matt Mittelsteadt during the 2021-22 academic year. The booklet addresses the role of judges as evidentiary gatekeepers, constitutional guardians, and potential consumers with respect to AI.
Professor Shubha Ghosh is Conducting Artificial Intelligence Agents Research at Bucerius Law School
- Professor Ghosh explains, “The common understanding is that AI is a tool to satisfy certain tasks. But more than metaphorically, we also use AI much like we hire a human employee. The discussion will examine the analytical strengths and weaknesses of thinking about AI as an employee, drawing on a branch of law called agency law. One main conclusion is that introducing agency law into the AI discussion supports bringing fiduciary principles as a possible guardrail on AI technologies.”