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UChicago Law Bans Laptops, Phones for First-Years
10 Jul
Summary
- First-year students at UChicago Law will not use phones or laptops in required courses.
- The ban aims to ensure students develop critical thinking without AI reliance.
- Exams will be in-class without internet or electronic device access.
Incoming law students at the University of Chicago will face a ban on phones and laptops in required first-year courses as part of a new AI policy unveiled on Thursday, July 6, 2026. This policy, developed over the past year, aims to ensure students learn to think critically and independently without immediate AI reliance.
This approach appears to be one of the most restrictive among U.S. law schools. Chicago Law Dean Adam Chilton stated the goal is to prepare students for real-world scenarios where they must answer legal questions without AI. While AI will be integrated later, the focus is on foundational skills first.
In required courses like constitutional law and torts, professors may designate scribes for shared notes. All exams will be administered in class without internet access. Chicago Law will still teach AI through upper-level courses and an AI lab, ensuring foundational skills are not undermined.
