University of California, Berkeley, School of Law is now accepting applications for the new AI-focused LL.M. program.
The program will award an AI Law and Regulation certificate for students in the LL.M. executive track to further equip legal professionals to navigate the complexities of AI.
Students will build core skills and knowledge in areas including data privacy, intellectual property, licensing and risk.
Adam Sterling, assistant dean at Berkeley Law, said the new degree program is ideal for both international legal practitioners and U.S. attorneys seeking to future-proof their practice.
“Students will learn from faculty, practitioner-lecturers and guest speakers on topics such as AI ethics, the fundamentals of AI technology and current and future efforts to regulate AI, including a focus on the EU AI Act,” he said.
Available courses include Law and Governance of Artificial Intelligence, taught by Colleen Chien, one of the top 20-cited intellectual property and cyberlaw scholars in the U.S.
One focus of the new class will be how AI is transforming the practice of law and the opportunities AI and automation technologies offer to ameliorate or exacerbate existing inequalities in the practice of law, including the access to justice gap.
Chien said students will gain fluency with AI technologies and explore the ways in which law and policy are being developed and applied to minimize the harms and maximize the benefits offered by AI.
“Examining a variety of governance tools, including court adjudication, legislation, regulatory frameworks, industry standards and best practices, this course will dive deeply into the intersections of AI and human rights, civil liberties, privacy, IP, consumer protection, employment and other laws,” she said.
Sterling said the program will equip participants with in-depth knowledge of the ethical, regulatory and policy challenges posed by AI.
“It will focus on building practice skills to help them advise and represent leading law firms, AI companies, governments and non-profit organizations,” he said.
Erwin Chemerinsky, dean at Berkeley Law, said its AI-focused degree program will prepare students for the challenges and opportunities presented by emerging technologies.
“This program underscores our commitment to innovation and excellence, ensuring our graduates are at the forefront of the legal landscape,” he said.
Designed for working professionals, the LL.M. executive track can be completed over a calendar year with part-time online coursework and one full-time summer in Berkeley, or over two consecutive summer semesters in residence.
Berkeley Law to offer LL.M. program focused on artificial intelligence
