Welcome to the Center for Law, Technology & Innovation at Michigan State University College of Law. For more than ten years, the Center has been at the forefront of integrating technology and innovation into the legal profession. The Center’s vision is to democratize access to justice through innovation.
Our efforts have not gone unnoticed; in 2023, Bloomberg Law recognized the Center as a leader in technology innovation in law school programs.
Our curriculum is designed to prepare "practice-ready" lawyers for the future, combining practical topics, skills training, simulations, and cutting-edge subjects. Our approach ensures our students are ready for the challenges and opportunities of the modern legal profession. Our graduates are highly sought-after by employers in the legal tech and innovation spaces, a testament to our effective approach to legal education.
One of the best signals of the Center’s success is the number of employers in the legal tech and innovation space who say, “We’d like to find an MSU alum (or student) for this role.” Law firms and corporate law departments want to establish externships and other ways to develop a pipeline to students and alums, especially for data privacy and technology counsel roles.
Our commitment to innovation is not just theoretical; it's practical. We have adopted best practices for innovation, continually iterating, experimenting, and pivoting to meet the demands of the future. We value feedback from our students, and continually work to ensure what they learn here translates into their jobs and practices.
With technology becoming an integral part of our lives, new lawyers must become comfortable with technology and make it a core part of their toolsets. At the Center, we're equipping students with the technological literacy essential for the 21st century lawyer.
The Center has four core focus areas:
These areas reflect the current trends and future directions of the legal profession, ensuring our students are prepared for the opportunities that lie ahead.
As a prototype land-grant institution, MSU’s mission is to serve the public through practical applications of scientific research and technological innovations. The Center fits perfectly into this mission.
Since its founding, Center has trained the next generation of tech-savvy lawyers and has been enriched by hundreds of alumni, many of whom have pioneered new paths in the legal profession. With a rich past, a promising future, and a rapidly-changing legal profession, the Center is preparing the next generation of innovative law school graduate for the coming challenges and opportunities.
We're not just keeping pace with the future of law, but actively shaping it. At the Center, we don't just talk about innovation—we live it. Join us on this exciting journey into the future of law.
The Center for Law, Technology & Innovation is the successor to MSU's LegalRnD Lab, which is now the home of the Center's programs, courses, and initiatives for AI in law.
"The Center explores the exciting and ever-changing intersection of technology, law, innovation, and practical skills along with cutting-edge new legal careers to prepare the next generation of lawyers for the legal issues—and legal industry—of the future.” - Dennis Kennedy, Director of the Center of Law, Technology & Innovation.