New Certificate of Study in AI and Law • News & Events - Penn Carey Law School

The certificate is now available to Penn Carey Law students.

The University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School and Penn Engineering developed a new Graduate Certificate of Study in AI and Law, now available for students to pursue this semester.

One of more than a dozen certificates of study offered at the Law School, the program is open to all Penn Carey Law students in year one of the program, with in-person, on-campus graduate students from Penn Engineering able to join in year two and beyond. Certificates of study provide opportunities to pursue credentials in additional areas, allowing for more concentrated coursework en route to specialized or focused career paths.

“One of the advantages of the Law School’s cross-disciplinary curriculum is our flexibility to create new, diverse programming in collaboration with the amazing grad schools across Penn,” said Amanda Aronoff, Managing Director, Cross-Disciplinary Programs at the Law School and Director of Student Engagement for the Francis J. & William Polk Carey JD/MBA Program. “We’re very excited to meet the demand for more cross-disciplinary opportunities related to AI as it becomes increasingly important to the practice of law.”

The new offering is the first step in a broader, deepening partnership between Penn Carey Law and Penn Engineering in AI and law. Future plans include a reciprocal certificate pathway, enabling students in both schools to complete a shared curriculum. The collaboration also includes the ongoing development of joint degree programs in AI and law designed to serve both law and engineering students. Together, these initiatives reflect a shared commitment to building durable institutional infrastructure at the intersection of law and technology.

Students pursuing the Certificate must complete five courses in the general area of AI and law as well as attend four AI-related events, such as workshops, lectures, or pedagogy seminars.

“We are excited to partner with the Law School on this new Certificate, which reflects a simple but urgent reality: every discipline is being reshaped by artificial intelligence,” said Vijay Kumar, Nemirovsky Family Dean of Penn Engineering. “Whether in law, engineering or beyond, understanding how AI impacts your field, and how to use AI tools thoughtfully and effectively, is essential.”

Currently, students can pursue several experiential, advanced, and specialized courses to develop legal AI skills, covering a range of emerging topics including the capabilities of new legal technology to transform corporate law practice and challenge intellectual property theory—as well as the role law can play in helping provide accountability in the use of these technologies, especially regarding systemic bias and their impact on public discourse.

“As generative AI continues to impact the practice of law, it is essential that our students have opportunities to pursue structured, forward-looking training that prepares them for a rapidly evolving legal landscape,” said Sophia Z. Lee, Dean and Bernard G. Segal Professor of Law. “This Certificate reflects the interdisciplinary foundation of our approach to legal education, bringing together insights from law and engineering to equip students with the tools and perspective needed to engage thoughtfully with emerging technologies.”