Restrictions on Artificial Intelligence in Legal Education
A report published by Inside Higher Ed on July 14, 2026, revealed that the University of California, Berkeley and the University of Chicago have imposed new limits on the use of AI and electronic devices by their law students. These measures come as leading law schools grapple with how to balance technological innovation with traditional academic rigor.
At UC Berkeley, students are now prohibited from relying on AI for any stage of work submitted for grading—including conceptualizing, outlining, writing, editing, translating, or revising assignments. The university’s official statement reads:
“Students may not use AI to conceive, plan, write, edit, translate, or modify any work that is submitted for evaluation.”
The University of Chicago has taken a different approach, banning laptops, tablets, and phones in classrooms for first‑year law students starting in fall 2026. This policy is part of a broader strategy to adapt legal education to the AI era, as the university explained:
“Starting this fall, first‑year law students will be barred from using laptops, tablets, and phones in classrooms—a move within a wider effort to reshape legal education for the age of artificial intelligence.”
These decisions reflect growing unease about how technology affects learning in law schools. Students must now find new ways to complete academic tasks while avoiding the prohibited tools. The restrictions also underscore a commitment to preserving academic standards and promoting deeper comprehension of legal material. As technology evolves rapidly, such steps may prove crucial for developing teaching approaches that account for the ethical and professional dimensions of AI in legal practice. These changes could influence future policy and curriculum at law faculties worldwide.