In this conversation, Dennis Kennedy, Principal Investigator at the Kennedy Idea Propulsion Laboratory and Adjunct Professor at Michigan State University College of Law, examines how generative AI is reshaping the expectations placed on new lawyers. Rather than treating AI as simply another legal technology tool, Kennedy argues that the profession is entering a moment that requires rethinking how lawyers are trained, supervised, and evaluated. The discussion explores how firms can prepare associates to work effectively in an AI-embedded environment, why verification and judgment are becoming core professional skills, and how legal education and professional development programs may need to evolve to keep pace with rapidly advancing capabilities.
Key moments from the discussion
- Generative AI as a turning point for legal practice (01:26)
- The growing gap between AI capabilities and lawyer training (06:01)
- Why the next generation of associates must verify AI output (10:11)
- Training behaviors, not just AI tools (20:46)
- How lawyers are actually learning and experimenting with AI today (47:11)
Dennis Kennedy