Dean Cynthia Nance on the UA School of Law & Changing Technology

Cynthia Nance was named the Nathan G. Gordon Professor of Law in 2012. (Michael Woods)

Has enrollment at the UA Law School mirrored the growth at the university itself? What do the trends show?

No, the School of Law has not grown at the same rate as the university. Our typical class size is 120 students. However, our entering class this year was slightly larger at 130 students. According to the Law School Admissions Council, the 2024 applicant pool is up 5% compared with this time last year, with 46% identifying as applicants of color and 57.3% women. One interesting fact is that the class of 2023 was 60% women.

What fields of law are most popular?

Our students’ interests are wide-ranging, as you might imagine. However, there is strong interest among our students in the areas of business law (private practice and corporate) and criminal law. We also have a growing number of students who are interested in pursuing public interest law positions.

How is technology, such as artificial intelligence, changing the teaching and the practice of law?

Professors now need to think about what their policy will be in terms of students’ use of AI. At our law school, the student Honor Council drafted an AI policy with input from the faculty and student body. Each professor’s syllabus includes the policy for the specific calls, which may vary from the baseline policy. For example, I allow my students to use AI to create their class presentations, but they are responsible for checking the accuracy of their work. I have a colleague who allows students to draft documents with the help of AI, but the students must review the results for accuracy. AI in the profession can create efficiencies in the practice of law by automating routine tasks, such as e-discovery and document review, and streamlining workflow.

You also served as Law School dean from 2006-11. How has the job changed since then?

It may be my perception, but it feels as though the pace of the job is much more demanding. What I mean by that is that the hours, amount of travel and accessibility via multiple forms of communication all seem to be greater. Additional changes are that administrative processes have become more formalized and there is greater regulation and oversight from our accreditors. One incredibly positive change is that law schools are taking a more active role in the wellness of our students by addressing their needs more holistically.