Chicago Law School Bans Phones, Laps from First-year Classes to Combat AI

Incoming students at the University of Chicago Law School will be barred from using phones and laptops in required first-year classes as part of a new artificial intelligence (AI) policy aimed at reducing reliance on AI tools and strengthening core legal skills.

The laptop and phone ban forms part of a wider AI strategy developed by the law school over the past year to ensure students “actually learn to think critically, strategically, and independently without relying on AI” before they are taught how to use such tools, according to the new policy.

The policy is among the most restrictive AI-related measures introduced by a US law school. Chicago Law Dean Adam Chilton told Reuters he was not aware of any other law school that had introduced a blanket ban on laptops and phones for first-year students.

The move follows the University of California, Berkeley School of Law’s introduction of rules in May that significantly restrict how students may use AI. Critics argued that Berkeley’s policy limits legitimate applications of AI at a time when legal employers increasingly expect newly qualified lawyers to understand and use the technology effectively.

Chilton said it was important to prepare students for situations in classrooms and legal practice where they must respond to legal questions immediately without relying on AI assistance.

“AI is forcing us to ask ourselves, ‘What are the essentially human skills that we should be training that AI can’t replace?’” Chilton said.

Under Chicago’s new rules, students in mandatory first-year courses, including constitutional law, torts and property law, will not be allowed to use personal electronic devices. Professors may appoint designated “scribes” who can use devices to take shared notes for the class.

Examinations for those courses will be conducted in classrooms without access to the internet, electronic files or applications. The law school said the policy will be tested during the upcoming academic year.

Chilton said reactions from incoming students were likely to be mixed, but noted that previous laptop restrictions introduced by individual professors had ultimately been welcomed by students who felt the measures improved their concentration.

AI will still be incorporated into the required first-year legal research and writing course. However, students will first focus on developing writing skills without AI assistance before learning how to use AI as part of the writing process.

Faculty members will have the flexibility to create their own AI policies for elective courses, although the laptop and phone restrictions, along with in-class assessments, will serve as the default approach.

The law school will continue teaching students about AI, including through advanced AI courses and an AI lab where students develop technology tools. However, Chilton said the school must ensure AI instruction does not weaken the development of fundamental legal skills.

 

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