The symposium Legal Education in the Age of Generative AI, organised by Dr Zubair Abbasi at Senate House, Royal Holloway, University of London on 30 April 2025, convened legal scholars, educators, students, and researchers to critically examine the transformative impact of generative AI on legal education. With four thematic sessions and nine papers presented, the event fostered robust discussions on pedagogical challenges, ethical dilemmas, and the future role of AI in the legal domain.

Across thought-provoking sessions, speakers explored the challenges and opportunities posed by AI tools such as ChatGPT in teaching, research, and legal reasoning. Key concerns included the growing trend of cognitive offloading, where students rely on AI for tasks like essay writing, potentially undermining critical thinking and creativity.

At the same time, participants emphasised the potential of GenAI as a tool for fostering deeper inquiry—acting as a Socratic partner to stimulate debate, test assumptions, and enhance learning. The symposium also addressed ethical and practical concerns, calling for AI literacy curricula, faculty training, and hybrid assessment models that combine AI-assisted work with unplugged evaluations.

Concluding on a reflective note, the event called for a reimagining of legal pedagogy—one that integrates AI thoughtfully while preserving the centrality of human judgment, ethical reasoning, and academic integrity.