Program on Technology in Legal Practice

Technology is transforming the legal profession. Now, more than ever, lawyers need to understand and utilize technology in order to be proficient practitioners and also comply with ethical norms.  To that end, American University Washington College of Law (AUWCL) has established a Program on Technology in Legal Practice (TILP), with the following goals:

• To deliver instruction and training to students on technology-related legal skills, through informal, certificate, and credit-bearing courses – while building upon our existing offerings.
• To promote the use of technology to enhance the delivery of legal services, consistent with AUWCL's long-standing commitment to inclusiveness and serving the public interest.
• To work collaboratively with offices and programs at AUWCL to best position our graduates for successful and meaningful careers.
• To keep abreast of technology used in the practice of law and in industries where our graduates routinely obtain employment.

In its initial phase, the program will focus on teaching students to master the use of software and other technologies that allow lawyers to work more effectively, and to efficiently deliver legal services.  TILP currently offers trainings to students, and will award a Legal Technology Certificate to students who successfully complete a set number of trainings.  Over the longer term, the TILP will develop trainings and courses relating to the use of technology to broaden access to justice.  This may include, for example, courses to train students to develop apps that provide legal information or streamline legal services delivery.  TILP will also promote theoretical and other scholarly dialogue regarding this increasingly important aspects of law practice.