UC Berkeley Law bans AI in nearly all graded work starting summer 2026, citing need for core thinking skills

Starting summer 2026, UC Berkeley School of Law prohibits students from using AI to brainstorm, draft, outline, write, revise, translate, or proofread graded work. Exams are completely off-limits. The only exception is using AI for research, such as finding statutes or case law, though students remain responsible for every fact they cite.

The school justifies the ban by stating that future lawyers need to build core thinking skills before they can use AI in any useful way. Professors retain the option to modify rules for specific courses, especially those teaching students how to work with AI.

The ban reflects concerns that AI tools can slip in errors, introduce bias, and shape opinions in legal work—while acknowledging that the tools speed up research and drafting.