Preparing the Legal Profession for AI: New Advisory Board Formed

Key insights:

• • • AI is already altering the legal profession — AI has become an integral part of daily legal tasks, with many attorneys from law firms and in-house legal teams utilizing generative AI (GenAI) tools. A significant number anticipate these tools will be essential to their work within the next five years.

    • The AIFLP Advisory Board aims to equip lawyers for an AI-driven future — The Thomson Reuters Institute (TRI) has assembled 21 distinguished figures from legal education, private practice, judiciary, and AI ethics, all dedicated to ensuring that current lawyers and law students are ready for an AI-influenced profession.

    • Human judgment will remain vital in an AI-enhanced legal landscape — Being prepared for AI is more than just mastering new technology; the Advisory Board stresses the importance of fortifying essential human capabilities.

In our rapidly evolving technological landscape, AI has transitioned from a future concept into a present reality for the legal profession. Its influence is reshaping how legal professionals work, learn, and assist clients. In response to this quickly changing environment, Thomson Reuters Institute (TRI) has launched the AI and the Future of Legal Practice (AIFLP) Advisory Board, uniting a diverse group of respected leaders to navigate the future of the profession.

The board comprises 21 accomplished individuals from various sectors of the legal field—education, private practice, judiciary, and AI ethics. Their collective mission is straightforward yet ambitious: to prepare today’s lawyers and tomorrow’s law students for a profession increasingly influenced by AI.

So, why this initiative now?

The transformation is already underway. TRI’s recent findings indicate that 41% of law firm attorneys are currently implementing some level of generative AI; nearly half of those working in corporate legal departments report similar usage. Moreover, an overwhelming majority of legal professionals expect that GenAI will become a fundamental aspect of their daily responsibilities within the next five years.

This rapid pace of change brings forth pressing questions regarding competence, ethics, education, risk management, and access to justice—questions that demand thoughtful consideration and do not yield easy answers.

Focus Areas of the Advisory Board

The AIFLP Advisory Board is committed to addressing these significant challenges head-on. Its initiatives will emphasize four critical areas that are presently feeling the impact of accelerating AI adoption:

• • • Legal education and talent development
    • Ethics, professional competence, and accountability
    • Governance, risk management, and client counseling
    • Access to justice and modern service delivery

The Board’s initial focus will evaluate how AI is currently transforming legal practice, identify the skills that future-ready lawyers must acquire, and explore how educational frameworks can better align with practical requirements. The emphasis lies not only on the utilization of AI tools but also on cultivating vital human skills, such as sound judgment, critical thinking, and the thorough verification of AI-generated information.

Proactively Shaping the Future

Mike Abbott, Head of the Thomson Reuters Institute, underlines the vital importance of establishing this Advisory Board at a time when the legal profession is at a pivotal juncture. It faces a choice: either react to the disruptions caused by AI or actively influence how these technologies will serve lawyers, courts, and the general public.

“By forming a board composed of distinguished leaders, our aim is to assist practicing lawyers and those of the future in navigating a swiftly evolving landscape,” Abbott explained. “Ensuring that legal education enhances irreplaceable skills such as critical thinking, human judgment, and effective communication will make AI utilization both safe and efficient. Ultimately, the Board’s endeavors will shape a future-ready profession, benefiting all stakeholders involved.”

Introducing the AIFLP Advisory Board Members

By gathering experienced leaders across multiple domains of the legal profession, TRI aspires to help lawyers approach this emerging landscape with assurance. Advisory Board Members include:

• • • Michael Abbott, Head of the Thomson Reuters Institute
    • Soledad Atienza, Dean, IE Law School
    • The Honorable Jennifer D. Bailey, (Ret.), Partner, Bass Law
    • Benjamin Barros, Dean, Stetson University College of Law
    • Professor Sara J. Berman, University of Southern California, Gould School of Law
    • Megan Carpenter, Dean Emeritus, University of New Hampshire Franklin Pierce School of Law
    • Ronald S. Flagg, President, Legal Services Corporation
    • Donna Haddad, AI Ethics and Governance expert, founding member, IBM AI Ethics Board
    • Johanna Kalb, Dean and Professor of Law, University of San Francisco School of Law
    • The Honorable Nelly Khouzam, Florida Second District Court of Appeal
    • The Honorable William Koch, Dean, Nashville School of Law, and former Tennessee Supreme Court Justice
    • Sheldon Krantz, retired partner, DLA Piper, and a founder, DC Affordable Law Firm
    • Stefanie A. Lindquist, Dean, School of Law, Washington University in St. Louis
    • The Honorable Mark Martin, Founding Dean and Professor of Law, Kenneth F. Kahn School of Law at High Point University, and former Chief Justice, Supreme Court of North Carolina
    • Caitlin (Cat) Moon, Professor of the Practice and founding co-director, Vanderbilt AI Law Lab, Vanderbilt Law School
    • Hari Osofsky, Myra and James Bradwell Professor and former Dean, Northwestern Pritzker School of Law; Founding Director, Northwestern University Energy Innovation Lab; and Founding Director, Rule of Law Global Academic Partnership
    • Joanna Penn, Chief Transformation Officer, Husch Blackwell
    • The Honorable Morris Silberman, Florida Second District Court of Appeal
    • The Honorable Samuel A. Thumma, Arizona Court of Appeals, Division One
    • Mark Wasserman, Partner and CEO Emeritus, Eversheds Sutherland
    • Donna E. Young, Founding Dean, Lincoln Alexander School of Law, Toronto Metropolitan University

Looking Ahead

The Advisory Board convened for its inaugural meeting in February and will continue to meet quarterly. As their work unfolds, TRI intends to release research findings, best practices, and actionable recommendations for legal educators, law firms, and judiciary members.

In a field grounded in precedent and careful analysis, the emergence of AI brings forth both opportunities and responsibilities. The AIFLP Advisory Board is dedicated to ensuring that the legal community approaches these changes thoughtfully and proactively.