How AI is Transforming the Legal Profession for The Next Generation

For digital natives and motivated high school students with a passion for law, you know that AI is impacting the legal profession. In this article, we will examine the ways this technology revolution is driving change and how it will enable law firms to deliver transformative benefits.

Key Points:

• When AI hallucinates
• The benefits of AI to law firms and attorneys
• What the research has to say
• How motivated high school students can get a head start on the law profession

According to Harvard Law Today, in 2024, an attorney filed a legal brief written with the help of AI platform ChatGPT. Included were citations to a series of legal cases that offered precedents supporting the client’s position. But there was a problem. As the judge discovered, six of those cases didn’t exist. They had been created by the online tool, a flaw known as hallucination. The incident is among a number of high-profile cases in which AI has been a cause for embarrassment. Still, many legal experts believe generative AI will transform the legal profession in ways that will aid both attorneys and their clients.

AI in the legal industry is of particular interest to Prelum Powered by Kaplan. Our focus is on partnering with top universities that offer pre-college online courses to motivated high school students. Many of our partner universities offer law courses designed for high school students interested in pursuing a career in the field. But more on that later. First, let’s examine how AI fits into the current state of the legal industry. 

The current state of AI in the law profession

According to Bloomberg Law, with the help of AI, law firms can:

• Conduct legal research and produce legal briefs (which are commonly time-consuming). With legal research tools powered by machine learning, the correct information can be found in a fraction of the time it would take a human.
• Legal AI can sift through volumes of case law, aggregate, and summarize the data in a more meaningful way in seconds.
• Supporters of legal AI argue that the technology can offer access to justice for litigants with limited resources. 

The Future of Professionals Report shared that respondents identified key areas of value where they are most excited about the use of AI-powered technology. These include:

• The ability to handle large volumes of legal data more effectively, where 59% claim AI can deliver the most significant value.
• The ability to improve client response times (41%).
• The ability to reduce human error (35%).
• Providing advanced analytics for decision-making (33%).

Many fear AI will eliminate jobs. But on the contrary, it now appears more likely that AI will transform many industries. As stated in The Future of Professionals Report, “AI will create new challenges for the legal profession, but also professionally satisfying opportunities. The future of legal practice has never looked brighter.” 

The law presents many exciting opportunities

There is never a better time to start your journey into the future of AI-powered law than now, while you are still in high school. Keep in mind, AI is just a tool; it will not replace the essential skills for lawyers, such as:

• Legal research
• Communication
• Leadership
• Teamwork
• Problem-solving
• Project management
• Negotiation
• Public speaking
• Real estate
• Writing
• Legal knowledge
• Commercial awareness
• Data management

AI can play a significant role in various technical aspects and serve as a valuable asset for effective time management. However, being a lawyer still primarily requires human intellectual skills. You can begin learning by enrolling in academic enrichment programs designed for high school students.

Prelum partners with some of the nation's best universities and law programs. Check out our Teens Interested in Law Programs page for a full range of partners and programs offering pre-college online law courses. In the meantime, here are a few for your consideration.

The Georgetown University Pre-College Online Program offers two law courses. One is international law, which covers how the U.S. legal system works across a global landscape. You’ll learn how treaties are negotiated and see how international law is enforced. Georgetown is also where you’ll find the Law: How to Think Like an Attorney course. In it, you’ll learn the disciplined way to ask questions. You’ll discover how to make decisions based on evidence and analysis and separate fact from opinion.

Northwestern University, through its pre-college online program, offers an online course titled Law: From Interview to Argument. In this course, students represent a hypothetical client from the initial interview through the court process to the oral argument. Learn effective ways to write in various areas of the law.

The University of Notre Dame Pre-College Online Program offers Law: Thinking Like a Lawyer. This course teaches the IRAC method of analyzing legal issues. You’ll explore aspects of the international legal system and examine how attorneys navigate the complexities of sports law and international property law.

Wake Forest University is another Prelum partner with pre-college law programs for high school students. Criminal Law: Inside the Courtroom takes you virtually inside the courtroom to view some of the toughest cases, from illegal drug sales to murder. Learn through the lens of both prosecutors and defense attorneys and explore the 4th Amendment protections against search and seizure.

These are just some of the law courses available to motivated high school students when you take advantage of everything Prelum has to offer. Undoubtedly, AI’s impact on all aspects of the law will be part of the learning experience. Plus, enjoy the advantages of online learning:

• The flexible format allows you to study at a time that fits your schedule.
• Courses led by university faculty.
• Mentors to enhance your learning experience.
• Certificate of Completion upon successfully turning in a Final Capstone Project.

This was last reviewed by Ashley Simmons on 05/09/2025.