Guest Post- AI Refusal in Legal Research Instruction – Part 1: Introduction
Ben Doherty, head of library instruction at the University of Virginia Law School, proposes an AI‑refusal policy for his Advanced Legal Research (ALR) course beginning Spring 2027. He argues for a return to analog, process‑based teaching methods—poster‑board charts, handwritten work, in‑person discussions—to strengthen critical thinking. The proposal comes amid mounting pressure from law schools and platforms like Harvey, a legal‑AI startup valued at $11 billion, to embed generative AI in curricula. Doherty frames the initiative as a four‑part series exploring how to teach legal research without relying on GAI.
The Rise of the Law, Information & Technology Librarian
Law schools are launching tenure‑track Law, Information & Technology (LIT) Librarian positions as AI reshapes legal practice. These roles fuse legal knowledge, information science, and emerging‑tech expertise, moving beyond traditional research support to curriculum design and ethical guidance. LIT Librarians...
Importance of Not Becoming Too Reliant on Generative AI
The Conversation article warns that growing dependence on generative AI like ChatGPT threatens critical thinking. Librarians, especially in legal research, risk eroding core research skills by offloading tasks to AI. The author suggests maintaining traditional search methods, using AI as...
Truth on Trial: Deepfakes and the Future of Evidence
The legal community is confronting deepfakes—AI‑generated audio, video and images—as a credible evidentiary threat, prompting courts to demand rigorous authentication rather than deference. Existing Federal Rules of Evidence lack specific guidance, leaving judges to apply case‑by‑case standards while experts and...
How to Talk About AI…When You Hate Talking About AI
Law librarians hosted a tabling event to introduce students to emerging legal AI tools such as Lexis Protégé and Westlaw Deep Research, encountering both enthusiasm and skepticism. They used live demonstrations, clear disclaimers about court and academic rules, and a neutral...
Understanding the Limits of Generative AI Tools
A senior lawyer’s preference for generative AI over a junior associate sparked debate about the true capabilities of AI tools. The article stresses that current models, even Retrieval‑Augmented Generation systems, can hallucinate and lack genuine understanding. It argues that lawyers...