AI and Law: Top law schools blend artificial intelligence into curriculum, with research and global insights

NEW DELHI: India’s legal academia is responding to the artificial intelligence revolution through pioneering programmes and research initiatives at its premier law schools. However, the field remains nascent, highlighting the urgent need for a robust regulatory framework and academic infrastructure.

"We must frame regulations carefully, recognising both the potential and the risks of AI," said Arul George Scaria, professor of law at the National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bengaluru.

“The stakes are high, and thoughtful regulation is imperative to ensure AI serves societal needs without causing harm.”

Courses on AI and law

NLSIU Bengaluru has integrated AI into its LLM curriculum through a law and technology concentration. Scaria emphasises that their programme covers intellectual property rights, liability frameworks, and comparative studies of global regulations like the European Union's AI Act.

"We prepare students to critically evaluate and contribute to the development of AI laws, equipping them to work in academia, think tanks, law firms, and corporate roles," he explained.

Similarly, in Kolkata, the National University of Juridical Sciences (NUJS) offers courses on AI and law interfaces, alongside a specialised master’s programme in data science and law. These initiatives reflect an interdisciplinary approach, blending legal, ethical, and technological perspectives.

The National Law University (NLU) Delhi previously offered a diploma course on AI law and policy through its Centre for Communication Governance from 2019 till 2023. While currently paused, professor Daniel Mathew explained that the decision stems from the “rapidly evolving nature of AI governance which could make a course’s foundational principles outdated even before its conclusion”.

He added: "We decided to pause and wait for a more stable regulatory landscape before resuming.”

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Teaching AI and law

The nascent nature of AI regulation in India presents unique challenges for academic institutions. Unlike the European Union, which has adopted a risk-based framework under its AI Act, India is yet to establish a dedicated legal framework for AI. This regulatory uncertainty complicates course development.

"We often rely on comparative analysis, looking at regulatory models from other jurisdictions like the EU. This provides students with insights into global best practices, but also highlights the gaps in India’s legal system," says Shouvik Guha, professor, NUJS.

Another challenge is the lack of domain expertise within the Indian legal education system, he explained. Collaborations with technical institutions and international organisations are emerging as a solution to bridge this gap.

A practical understanding of AI is central to legal education in this domain. At NUJS, students engage in legal prompt engineering assignments, using AI tools to solve legal problems such as contract analysis and compliance checks. "We want our students to be adept at leveraging AI tools in legal contexts," added Guha.

NLSIU employs a similar approach, incorporating hands-on projects that examine liability regimes across jurisdictions. These projects enable students to critically assess global regulatory practices and propose solutions tailored to India’s unique challenges.

EU AI Act: A template?

India’s regulatory deliberations often draw inspiration from the EU’s AI Act, which categorises AI systems based on risk levels — unacceptable, high, medium, and low. Vivasvan Gautam, who completed his LLM and is now a researcher at NUJS, is exploring whether this model can be adapted to India’s context.

"My research focuses on the EU’s unacceptable risk category," Gautam explained. "It’s crucial to evaluate whether India should follow this path or design its own framework to address AI’s potential risks and challenges."

India’s vast population and diverse socio-economic landscape present both challenges and opportunities in regulating AI. While AI holds immense potential to revolutionise healthcare, education, and governance, the risks — ranging from data privacy violations to algorithmic bias — are significant.

Scaria emphasises, "Thoughtful regulation is crucial to ensure AI’s benefits are maximised while its risks are minimised."

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Artificial Intelligence and Law: Looking ahead

Despite the challenges, there is optimism about the future of AI-law education in India. NUJS plans to launch a three-month certificate course on AI and law by 2025 in collaboration with technical institutes like the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Kolkata and Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur. At NLSIU, the law and technology concentration continues to expand, reflecting the growing demand for expertise in this interdisciplinary field.

Meanwhile, NLU Delhi is preparing to revive its diploma course once the regulatory environment stabilises. "It’s in the freezer for now, but we’ll bring it back when there’s more clarity in AI governance," said Mathew.

The integration of AI and law in India is a field in flux, driven by evolving technologies and regulatory uncertainties. However, institutions like NLSIU, NUJS, and NLU Delhi are laying the groundwork for a robust academic and professional framework. Through innovative courses, interdisciplinary collaborations, and a focus on real-world applications, these institutions are preparing the next generation of legal professionals to navigate the complexities of AI governance.

As Scaria concluded, "AI’s potential and risks are immense. By equipping students with the right tools, we can ensure they lead the way in shaping India’s AI regulations and leveraging its benefits responsibly."