In his recent article, Solving Professors’ Dilemmas about Prohibiting or Promoting Student AI Use, John Lande, Isidor Loeb Professor of Law, Emeritus at the University of Missouri has tackled a topic on the minds of many of us teaching students for whom AI will play a large role in their careers. Should we slow them down on AI so they can learn critical skills first or speed them up on AI to ready them for a quick start in the professional world? His work offers suggestions pointing both ways. Take a look.

University of Missouri School of Law Legal Studies Research Paper No. 2025-53

22 Pages Posted: 1 Dec 2025

John Lande

University of Missouri School of Law

Abstract

Faculty face difficult dilemmas as law students increasingly use generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools like ChatGPT.  Should faculty prohibit student use of AI in course work, allow it within limits, or actively encourage it to build professional skills?  Because students already use AI tools, faculty must respond.  Doing nothing can undermine core educational goals.

This article offers practical strategies for addressing these dilemmas.  These strategies are designed to promote learning, uphold academic integrity, and prepare students for an evolving legal profession.  This article outlines two broad approaches:  restricting unauthorized AI use and promoting responsible, supervised use.  It provides concrete suggestions for both approaches as well as a middle path permitting some uses and prohibiting others.  In addition, some faculty may treat AI literacy as an important learning objective in its own right.

This article includes model policies, a certification form, grading rubrics, and assignment ideas to help faculty clarify goals and manage student AI use.  It offers techniques to help students use AI tools effectively and responsibly.  Rather than treating AI solely as a threat to legal education, this article presents it as an opportunity to clarify core values, rethink teaching methods, and better prepare students for a profession reshaped by emerging technologies.

Keywords: legal education, artificial intelligence, AI, generative AI, student writing, academic integrity, legal pedagogy, AI literacy, law school assignments, ChatGPT, faculty policy, technology in legal education, legal writing, assessment, legal research

Suggested Citation:

Lande, John, Solving Professors’ Dilemmas about Prohibiting or Promoting Student AI Use (December 01, 2025). University of Missouri School of Law Legal Studies Research Paper No. 2025-53, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=5841522 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.5841522