In the second AI conversation of the King’s Academy 'Interfaculty Insights' series, Professor Dan Hunter, Executive Dean of the Dickson Poon School of Law, shares his multifaceted engagement with artificial intelligence (AI). With a background rooted in Australian law and academic stints in the United States and the United Kingdom, Prof Hunter discusses the intersection of AI within legal education and practice. He underscores the evolutionary shift in AI’s impact, from deep learning to the more recent generative AI, which has gained prominence through large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT.

Prof Hunter’s role as a Dean, academic, and legal practitioner provides him a unique vantage point to address the transformative potential and the pedagogical implications of AI in law. He touches upon instances where lawyers have misused AI, leading to fabricated legal precedents—a cautionary tale that underscores the necessity for thorough research and the critical evaluation of AI-generated content.

Throughout the conversation,  Prof Hunter advocates for the integration of AI into legal curriculum, emphasising the importance of preparing students for a professional landscape increasingly shaped by technology. He mentions structured prompt engineering as a pedagogical tool to enhance critical thinking and practical skills in law students. Prof Hunter views the advent of AI as an opportunity to improve efficiency and productivity in legal practice, although he acknowledges the need to balance technology use with essential skill development.

Prof Hunter challenges his peers to embrace AI, not as a replacement for human expertise but as a complement that enhances our capabilities and addresses the mundane aspects of professional work. He anticipates that AI will continue to revolutionise the field and posits that resistance to its integration could render traditional practices obsolete.

As the conversation winds down,  Prof Hunter fields questions from the audience, ranging from the practical applications of AI in professional services to the philosophical implications of reliance on AI in education and professional development. He encourages engagement with AI tools, suggesting that familiarity will dispel fears and open doors to a myriad of uses that enhance academic and administrative processes. Prof Hunter envisions a future in which AI is an integral part of legal work, transforming how law is taught, practiced, and evolves over time.