I originally delivered this as a presentation to incoming 1L students at Vanderbilt Law School orientation.
Picture this: you're a first-year law student staring at a mountain of case law, feeling overwhelmed by dense legal language and wondering if you'll ever make sense of it all. Then someone mentions ChatGPT. Suddenly, you've got a study buddy who can help break down complex cases. Or polish your résumé. Or even explain the Rule Against Perpetuities in plain English (sort of).
And, here's where my favorite metaphor for AI comes in.
AI is like the Force. It's powerful, it surrounds us, and like any powerful tool, it can be used for good. Or for bad. The real question facing law students today isn't whether to use AI (you probably already are), but how to use it responsibly.
From Padawan to Professional
It’s really quite simple: the way you handle AI as a law student is essentially practice for how you'll handle it as a lawyer. In the legal profession, it's ultimately our obligation to the client that dictates whether and how we attorneys can use AI tools. ABA Formal Opinion 512 states just this: lawyers must use technology consistent with their duties of competence, candor, and confidentiality.
In law school, your professor plays the client role. Some will encourage AI experimentation; others will prohibit it entirely. Your job remains the same in both contexts: use these tools with integrity, accuracy, and professional judgment.
Your Ethical Compass: Five Essential Questions
Rather than drowning you in even more rules, let me offer something more practical: five questions that can guide your AI use throughout law school and beyond.
1. Integrity: Am I being honest about what's AI-generated? Using AI isn't cheating unless you're hiding it or misrepresenting it as entirely your own work. Transparency is key.
2. Accuracy: Have I verified the output, or am I taking it at face value? Think of AI as that overconfident study partner who's brilliant one moment and completely wrong the next. Always fact-check.
3. Reliability: Is this the right context for this tool? AI might be perfect for brainstorming study outlines, but entirely inappropriate for a graded assignment. Context matters.
4. Confidentiality: Am I sharing information I shouldn't? Never paste sensitive case details or anything resembling client data into public AI tools. Start practicing confidentiality and data security now.
5. Authority: Who gets to decide if I can use AI here? In practice, your obligations to the client are the guiding factor. In school, it's your professor. When in doubt, ask.
These questions aren't just academic exercises—they're practice for the professional judgment you'll need as a practicing attorney.
Channeling Your Inner Luke Skywalker
So what mindset should you bring to AI? I suggest adopting what I call the "Be like Luke" mindsets:
Humble curiosity – Explore how these tools work and what they can do, but don't assume you understand them completely.
Resilience – Don't expect AI to do the hard work for you. The struggle is where the learning happens.
Balance – Let AI support your judgment, not replace it. You're still the one responsible for your work.
Responsibility – Own your output completely. AI doesn't get graded—you do.
Building Your Professional Reputation
Here's the thing about reputation: it starts now, not when you pass the bar exam. Every choice you make about AI use is practice for the ethical decisions you'll face as a lawyer. And the habits you develop in law school (both the good and the bad) will follow you into practice.
The Honor Code isn't just about avoiding misconduct; it's about building the kind of trustworthiness that defines excellent lawyers. When you use AI with integrity, accuracy, and respect for the rules? You're developing the professional instincts that will serve you throughout your career.
The Force Is Strong
AI technology will continue evolving throughout your legal education and career. As new tools emerge, your capabilities will expand. And the ethical landscape will shift as our profession continues to evolve with technology. But if you ground yourself in these five fundamental principles—integrity, accuracy, reliability, confidentiality, and authority—you'll be equipped to navigate whatever comes next.
Because AI, like the Force, surrounds you. Your task is to use it for good, with wisdom, courage, and integrity. The legal profession needs lawyers who can harness powerful technologies responsibly, and that training begins in law school.
May the Force be with you!