UC Berkeley Law Artificial Intelligence Policy (www.law.berkeley.edu)

UC Berkeley Law has announced a new policy that will take effect in Summer 2026, restricting the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in courses connected to credit-bearing assignments and exams. The policy mandates that students cannot use AI tools for tasks such as brainstorming, outlining, drafting, revising, or editing their work. Additionally, AI cannot be utilized to translate work or assist during examinations. The primary goal of this initiative is to ensure students cultivate essential cognitive skills necessary for effective legal practice, emphasizing the importance of critical thinking and ethical decision-making in law. This policy is significant for the AI/ML community as it highlights the ongoing dialogue about technology's role in education and professional fields, particularly in law. By prioritizing traditional legal learning methods over AI assistance, UC Berkeley Law aims to prepare future lawyers with the intellectual foundation to engage critically with AI outputs. While the use of AI is limited, students may still use it for research purposes, such as identifying legal sources, reinforcing the expectation that they must independently verify the accuracy of their submitted work. This approach sets a precedent for balancing AI integration with essential skill development in legal education.