GenAI, cybersecurity, and emerging technological standards are no longer peripheral considerations — they are central to the future of the legal practice and practitioners should be focused on legal tech education
Legal education has long been the backbone of professional development in the legal sector, but with the rapid evolution of technology, the landscape of what constitutes essential knowledge and skills is changing dramatically. Generative AI (GenAI), cybersecurity, and emerging technological standards are no longer tangential considerations, rather they are central to the future of legal practice.
The International Legal Technology Association (ILTA) EVOLVE 2025 conference, coming at the end of April, is set to explore these advancements through a careful focus on training and experiential learning — two pillars that should be central to legal technology education in any setting.
5 concepts reshaping the legal profession
First, we want to explore five critical educational concepts — a few of the many — that are reshaping the legal profession and briefly highlight how to support the need for training and upskilling in these areas.
1. The necessity of GenAI literacy
GenAI is either already revolutionizing or is at least well positioned to revolutionize the way legal professionals conduct research, draft documents, oversee operational aspects of law firm administration and managing client interactions. The American Bar Association (ABA) is already developing emerging rules for AI governance, underscoring the urgency of integrating this knowledge into legal education. In addition, the European Union and several US states also are leading the way in this area.
Beyond theoretical understanding, the profession requires hands-on training to effectively use well-known AI tools such as Microsoft Copilot and ChatGPT, legal domain-specific tools, and many others. These tools can automate routine tasks like contract drafting and data analysis but require an understanding of some of the potential pitfalls and the need for monitoring within the course of using AI to avoid biases, hallucinations, privacy and confidentiality violations, and more.
These experiential learning concepts are most helpful in training legal professionals. Mock scenarios and AI-driven simulations can prepare students to harness these tools effectively while understanding the ethical considerations that accompany their use.
At ILTA EVOLVE 2025, for example, attendees can expect practical demonstrations and real-world case studies on GenAI applications. Indeed, GenAI is not just about efficiency, it’s about transforming the way professionals approach legal work. To stay competitive, legal professionals need both a conceptual framework and the practical skills to leverage this technology responsibly.
2. Addressing emerging cybersecurity risks
With law firms serving as repositories for highly sensitive client information while working on complex transitions requiring confidentiality, cybersecurity is a cornerstone of modern legal practice. The escalating sophistication of cyber-threats demands that legal professionals understand concepts like information governance, data breach response, and emerging cyber-risk areas, both from the offensive and defensive perspectives of the discipline.
Legal education programs must go beyond theoretical discussions to do a deep dive into technology and offer actionable training in areas such as ISO 42001 standards, cybersecurity protocols, and risk mitigation strategies. The Dark Web, facial recognition technology, and other emerging risks cited by US law enforcement should also be elements of this education.
ILTA EVOLVE 2025’s agenda places cybersecurity front and center, technology providers develop hands-on workshops and simulations for attendees that mirror real-world cyber incidents. Not surprisingly, the legal profession is uniquely vulnerable to cyberattacks and protecting client data must be a top priority. Education around cybersecurity issues is not optional — it’s an ethical and professional obligation.
3. Developing information governance expertise
Information governance — the effective management of information assets — is increasingly critical for law firms as they navigate complex regulatory environments. Poor information governance not only risks non-compliance but also undermines a firm’s operational efficiency and client trust.
Educational events are served well by prioritizing this area and offering sessions and workshops that combine theoretical frameworks with practical exercises. The ILTA EVOLVE 2025 conference dedicates several sessions to this topic, helping attendees understand the lifecycle of information management from creation to disposal.
4. Emerging standards and legal technology ethics
As technology evolves, so too do the standards and ethical considerations that govern its use. The ABA’s emerging rules on AI such as Formal Opinion 512 and other frameworks like ISO 42001 offer guiding principles, but legal professionals need more than awareness. They need actionable insights into how these standards affect their day-to-day work. Consider the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), and also well-known acts such as the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). These standards and regulations are ever-changing, and engaging with industry experts to understand compliance is an important element for all legal technologists.
Legal education should also examine both the ethical implications and practical applications of emerging standards. Potentially, moot compliance audits or real-life past use cases may emerge as innovative ways to engage event attendees with these concepts as well as sessions that break down these standards into practical applications.
5. The value of experiential learning
Experiential learning opportunities — whether in law schools, professional organizations, or conferences — enable participants to build confidence and competence in real-world settings. For example, workshops that simulate AI-assisted litigation or cybersecurity breach response can prepare legal professionals to navigate complex scenarios with agility and expertise.
There is a broader need for experiential learning in legal education, where offering practical, technology-focused training is an element of increasing focus. For example, one of the standout features of ILTA EVOLVE 2025 is its focus on experiential learning that includes four hands-on workshops to give participants the opportunity to directly engage with cutting-edge tools and techniques.
The path forward for legal education
As the legal profession undergoes a profound transformation, education must adapt to prepare professionals for the challenges and opportunities ahead. Institutions must integrate experiential learning, emphasize emerging technologies, and provide actionable training that mirrors real-world demands.
By addressing key themes such as GenAI, cybersecurity, information governance, and emerging standards, educational events can equip attendees with actionable insights and set a benchmark for how legal education should evolve.
You can find out more about ILTA’s EVOLVE 2025 conference here
