AI is now a strategic necessity rather than an optional add-on for legal professionals James Cook University Law Lecturer Dr Karnika Bansal believes.
Dr Bansal, who will present a seminar on Teaching Law in the GenAI Era, next month says that the development of sophisticated legal GenAI tools is no longer speculative but an active part of practice.
They include applications ranging from chatbots to applications for document review, legal research and drafting,
“Importantly, the adoption of these technologies is not confined to private practice,” Dr Bansal said.
“We are seeing a broader uptake across government legal teams, community legal centres, legal services boards and even within the courts, signaling systemic integration rather than isolated experimentation.
She referred to a recent article from Thomson Reuters that observed “law firms are prioritising digital transformation” and that “legal-related technology has become fundamental for sustained relevance and competitive advantage in a market…”
“This highlights that technology, and in particular AI, is now a strategic necessity rather than an optional add-on,” she says.
“In this context, I see AI and GenAI literacy as a core competency for both current and future lawyers.
“The ability to engage critically with these tools will not only support efficiency but also ensure lawyers maintain professional relevance and ethical responsibility in a changing legal landscape.”
Practitioners can hear more and discover how generative AI is transforming the landscape of higher legal education, via a free online seminar next month.
Dr Bansal will present Teaching Law in the GenAI Era on October 16 as part of university’s 2025 Law Seminar Series.
She will explore the shifting role of educators, the integration of AI tools in teaching and assessment, and the critical challenges of maintaining academic integrity and fostering independent thinking.
Dr Bansal holds a PhD in Copyright Law, a Master of Laws in Intellectual Property (IP), and a Bachelor of Laws with Economic Honours. Her expertise lies in private law, with a strong focus on IP and Technology Law.
She is passionate about transforming legal education through technology-driven teaching strategies, student-centred learning and curriculum innovation.
The free, one-hour seminar will be held online at 11am, and is worth 1 CPD point.
Register here. For details of other presentations in the James Cook University Law Seminar Series, visit the website.
Share this article