What's happened
The University of Chicago Law School has introduced a laptop-free policy for incoming first-year students, part of a broader initiative to develop AI-resilient pedagogy. In-class exams will be conducted without internet access or external materials, while AI literacy will be integrated into the curriculum to balance independent thinking with responsible AI use.
What's behind the headline?
Critical Analysis
- The policy signals a shift from technology-enabled learning to foundational skill-building in law, aiming to preserve critical thinking as AI becomes ubiquitous.
- It reflects a broader trend of universities experimenting with controlled tech access to safeguard academic integrity while accommodating AI literacy.
- The strategy could create a two-tier learning environment in which some students adapt faster to AI tools, potentially widening gaps in skill development.
Writing style
- The piece should present concrete actions and outcomes, supported by quotes from university leadership and independent observers where available.
How we got here
The move follows a wave of AI integration in higher education and heightened concerns about AI-assisted learning. The policy aligns with industry and legal sector trends that place high exposure to automation on lawyers, and mirrors similar debates at other universities about how to teach critical reasoning in an AI-enabled era.
Our analysis
Independent reports on the policy; Business Insider coverage of AI in higher education; Deloitte-backed studies on AI in education; Garfield AI case in the UK. Direct quotes: from Adam Chilton, dean, University of Chicago Law School, and Garfield AI CEO Philip Young; “We need to ensure that our students actually learn to think critically, strategically, and independently without relying on AI.”; “This will force a new age of access to justice.”
Go deeper
- Will other law schools follow Chicago’s laptop-free approach?
- How will students adapt to in-class exams without internet access?
- What AI tools will be available to students for ethical/legal learning?
More on these topics
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University of Chicago Law School - Law school
The University of Chicago Law School (Chicago Law) is a professional graduate school of the University of Chicago. It is consistently ranked among the top five law schools in the world, and has produced many distinguished alumni in the judiciary, academia