Published via Law360 Pulse by Steven Lerner
In an effort to ensure that its graduates enter the legal profession with a proper understanding of how to use artificial intelligence responsibly and effectively, the Cleveland State University College of Law launched a prompt engineering for lawyers course in early January.
CSU College of Law announced the new program Wednesday, with over 130 of the school's 500 students already enrolled in the voluntary course. The program uses the Fundamentals of Prompt Engineering for Lawyers course developed by the legal training platform AltaClaro.
Due to the high demand for the voluntary course, CSU College of Law plans to reoffer it again in the academic year, including sessions during spring break and the early summer term. Students who complete the course will get a certificate from AltaClaro.
Brian Ray, co-interim dean at CSU College of Law, told Law360 Pulse that the school wants every law student to have a basic understanding of how to use AI tools in a legal setting.
"We're at an inflection point where things are going to change pretty significantly in how practice is done, and it's not clear at all where that's going to hit and then what it means for law schools in terms of preparing students," Ray said. "But this gets us a nice, solid baseline. And then we're going to build on that."
Long term, Ray said CSU College of Law might make the voluntary course a requirement for students or embed it into a required course.
CSU College of Law began to look for an AI course developed by a separate training provider in 2025. After talking with tech leaders at law firms, Ray learned about AltaClaro's course and felt comfortable using the platform because it was vetted by top law firms.
While other law schools have used AltaClaro's AI training course before, this is the company's first instance of a formal partnership with a law school that is deploying the training on a grand level to every law student who wants to take it.
"To get this at this stage for law students ... to give them the same industrial strength that the top firms are getting, I think it's a great move for the law school," Abdi Shayesteh, founder and CEO of AltaClaro, said.
Over 3,000 legal professionals, including many from top law firms, have completed the same prompt engineering for lawyers course since it launched over two years ago.
The curriculum teaches practical techniques for using generative AI tools, including limitations of the technology and verifying AI results. Students who take the course will work on legal research projects and other assignments that include reviewing a contract. It's a structured program that includes feedback from attorneys.
"It helps with the critical thinking that attorneys need when they're using these tools," Shayesteh said.
CSU College of Law's introduction of the new prompt engineering course complements the school's broad AI strategy, including a new AI advisory council comprised of legal tech experts. Several required courses already have some AI integrated into the curriculum. The school also offers other credentials, including a cybersecurity and data privacy certificate and an intellectual property certificate.