Berkeley Law Limits Student Use of AI in Coursework, Exams

Berkeley Law bans students from using AI for drafting and exams starting summer 2026.

Berkeley Law has introduced a new policy restricting students from using artificial intelligence tools for substantive tasks in their academic work. Starting in summer 2026, students may not rely on AI for conceptualizing, outlining, drafting, revising, translating, or editing assignments submitted for credit, as detailed in the AI Policy document.

The policy also strictly prohibits AI use in all exam situations, emphasizing an unambiguous standard for assessment integrity. However, instructors have the discretion to relax these default rules in courses specifically designed to teach AI fluency or where pedagogical reasons justify alternative approaches.

This policy, adopted by Berkeley Law faculty on May 6, 2026, followed thorough discussions incorporating both student and faculty feedback, indicating broad institutional consideration. Berkeley Law's approach reflects a deliberate effort to ensure that students develop the core analytical and legal skills essential for effective lawyering, without over-reliance on AI-generated outputs.

As the policy states, "Future lawyers may need to use artificial intelligence ('AI') fluently. But the current state of the technology requires that AI use be coupled with the cognitive skills necessary to strategically deploy the technology, to critically assess its work product, and to uphold ethical obligations to clients and to the legal system." For faculty, the goal is clear: "We want to be grading the students’ work."

The policy sits alongside Berkeley Law's broader educational offerings, including its LL.M. Certificate in AI Law and Regulation, which requires 11 course units and focuses on AI's intersection with legal frameworks.

While the policy does not address enforcement mechanisms or accommodations for students with disabilities who might rely on AI, it underscores the evolving challenge legal education faces in integrating AI tools responsibly while maintaining rigorous standards for student work.

Yes, but: The policy allows instructors to set alternative AI rules in courses explicitly designed for AI fluency, providing some flexibility in teaching approaches.