Lawyerist Podcast · 2026-06-25 · 38 min
AI is not just changing how lawyers work. It is changing how lawyers learn. In episode 624 of the Lawyerist Podcast, Zack Glaser talks with April Dawson, Associate Dean of Technology and Innovation and Professor of Law at North Carolina Central University School of Law, about what AI means for legal education, new lawyer training, and the future of law practice. April explains why law schools can no longer rely on written work alone to measure whether students truly understand the material. As AI becomes embedded in legal writing, research, and drafting tools, new lawyers will need to prove their value in different ways, including verbal explanation, critical thinking, judgment, and the ability to use technology responsibly. Together, they explore how AI may shrink traditional mentorship opportunities, why new lawyers need to become more self-directed learners, and how legal employers may increasingly expect graduates to arrive with real AI fluency. April also shares why small firm owners should rethink their workflows from beginning to end instead of layering AI on top of inefficient systems.
Before You Hire: How to Know What Your Law Firm Really Needs, with Bernadette Harris58 / 100
AI Arbitration and the Future of Legal Work, with Bridget McCormack
From Practice to Asset: Building a Law Firm with Real Value, with Tom Lenfestey
Stop Calling Them VAs: How to Build a High-Performing Remote Legal Team, with Raquel Gomes
What Claude Means for Law Firms, Part 2: Using AI to Practice at the Top of Your License, with Sam Harden