AI in legal practice? UWB Law Faculty examines its potential

The Faculty of Law at the University of West Bohemia is exploring the potential of artificial intelligence. A special working group is examining how the technology could be used ethically and reliably in the education of future lawyers. Its first task is to analyse the risks and benefits.

Can generative artificial intelligence become a fully fledged tool of modern legal practice? Could it improve the teaching of legal argumentation, work with case law, or the analysis of complex cases? What specific risks does the use of this technology bring, and how should they be assessed? These and other questions are being explored by the Faculty of Law of the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen (FPR). The aim is to modernise teaching and research and to support academics in their work.

“The faculty is establishing a working group composed of three expert sections whose task will be to professionally assess the possibilities of integrating artificial intelligence into the academic environment. Our goal is not the hasty adoption of technologies, but the creation of a safe and ethical framework for their potential future use,” explained Vilém Knoll, Vice-Dean for Research at the Faculty of Law. The new working group aims to take a systematic approach to AI. Its first step will be to carry out a thorough analysis of the benefits and risks for legal scholarship and education.

One of the planned steps is the introduction of an educational chatbot that could test students in a practice setting. The model is currently undergoing pilot testing. It is based on curated study materials and could soon become part of students’ interactive exam preparation. At the same time, FPR is working to ensure that the chatbot minimises the risk of misinformation while also protecting copyright within a closed digital environment.

Artificial intelligence is also increasingly being used directly in legal practice, particularly in advocacy and other legal professions. The new working group has already compared existing experiences with the implementation of these tools and is now examining how they could be incorporated into teaching to reflect current practice needs better. Another key issue is the legal regulation of AI. Experts are assessing how technological development aligns with the principles of the rule of law, while also addressing questions of human rights protection and the risks of algorithmic discrimination, particularly in decision-making and the right to a fair trial.

The first meeting of experts from FPR devoted to the use of artificial intelligence also included presentations of current research projects in this field and discussions about how this agenda could develop further. “The faculty is actively mapping grant opportunities that connect legal expertise with technological innovation. Academic staff can submit proposals for internal projects focused on testing AI tools until the end of February 2026,” emphasised Vice-Dean Knoll. UWB employees and students can already use a range of AI-based tools to support their professional development. These tools are available here.