AI, Legal Technology, and the Justice Gap Lab (Willis)
Faculty
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| Miguel Willis Innovator in Residence, Future of the Profession Initiative willism1@law.upenn.edu |
Additional Information
Experiential CourseYes
Skills Training
Oral Presentations
Team Projects
Other Professional Skills:
Grading
15% Participation,
35% Paper,
50% Other (50% Final Group Project
)
With Permission of Instructor
Class meets in person.
Course Continuity
Students are encouraged to stay home if you are ill or experience flu-like symptoms. If you miss a class for any reason, it is still your responsibility to make up the work missed.
I offer the following to students who miss class due to illness:
- Class sessions are regularly recorded. If you are absent due to illness or some other unavoidable circumstance, email me and I can send you an email with instructions for accessing the recording for the class session(s) you missed.
- If you are absent due to illness or some other unavoidable circumstance, email me and I can make PowerPoint slides or other class materials available to you.
Meeting Times/Location
W 4:30PM - 6:20PM
Silverman Hall 245A
Category
Upper-Level
Credits
2.0
The AI, Legal Technology, and Justice Gap Lab explores the transformative potential of legal technology (legal tech) to address the “Justice Gap” and improve access to justice for underserved communities.
Students will critically examine the opportunities and challenges presented by emerging technologies, including large language models (LLMs), artificial intelligence (AI), and predictive algorithms, while grappling with the ethical, racial, and social justice implications of these tools.
Through an interdisciplinary lens grounded in critical legal studies and social justice frameworks, the course delves into how legal tech innovations can either democratize legal services or further entrench social inequalities. Students will analyze the Justice Gap, its causes, and the role of politics and economics in shaping legal services delivery. By borrowing from disciplines such as participatory design, AI ethics, and regulatory frameworks, students will collaborate with technologists and design ethical legal solutions that advance justice and promote accountability and equity.
ELIGIBILITY/PREREQUISITES: There are no formal prerequisites to take this course. Please come with a strong interest in how technology transforms the law, and for any non law students, a willingness to explain concepts from your respective fields to students with different backgrounds.
CONDUCT/EXPECTATION: Attendance is required. The classes will include participation in group exercises where the students will be expected to contribute. Students will treat each other with respect.
OFFICE HOURS: Instructors will be available for regularly scheduled virtual office hours. Students may contact the professors to schedule a Zoom or phone call to discuss the course at any time during the semester.
Skills Learning outcomes: Demonstrate an understanding of the individual course skill; Demonstrate the ability to receive and implement feedback; Demonstrate an understanding of how and when the individual course skill is employed in practice.
Courts and the Judicial System Learning outcomes: Demonstrate a core understanding of both substantive and procedural issues in the operation of our legal system; Perform legal analysis in the context of procedural issues and the judicial process; Communicate effectively on topics related to procedure and the judicial process; Demonstrate an understanding of how procedural issues and the judicial process affect all other area of our legal system.
Intellectual Property and Technology Law Learning outcomes: Demonstrate a core understanding of intellectual property law; Perform legal analysis in the context of intellectual property law; Communicate effectively on topics related to intellectual property; Demonstrate an understanding of the interconnection between technology and intellectual property, and how they affect other areas of law and society.
Perspectives on the Law Learning outcomes: Demonstrate an understanding of how the law affects, and is affected by, the individual course topic; Perform legal analysis in the context of the individual course topic; Communicate effectively on the legal and other aspects of the individual course topic; Demonstrate the ability to use other disciplines to analyze legal issues relevant to the individual course topic, including economics, philosophy, and sociology, as appropriate.
Administrative and Regulatory Law Learning outcomes: Demonstrate a core understanding of administrative and regulatory law and the administrative process, including the role of statutory authorization and work of administrative agencies; Perform legal analysis in the context of administrative and regulatory law; Communicate effectively on topics related to administrative and regulatory law; Demonstrate an understanding of the role administrative and regulatory law play in our legal system and in society as a whole.
Public Interest Learning outcomes: Demonstrate a core understanding of the varied legal aspects of public interest law; Perform legal analysis in the context of public interest law; Communicate effectively on topics related to public interest law; Demonstrate an understanding of how public interest law is connected to and affected by a wide variety of legal and regulatory structures and doctrines.
Equity and Inclusion Learning outcomes: Demonstrate a core understanding of the varied legal aspects of equity and inclusion; Perform legal analysis in the context of topics related to equity and inclusion; Communicate effectively on the legal aspects of equity and inclusion; Demonstrate an understanding of how equity and inclusion are connected to and affected by a wide variety of legal and regulatory structures and doctrines.
Textbooks
"Dædalus Journal of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences “Access to Justice” " by Lincoln Caplan, Lance Liebman & Rebecca L. Sandefur, |