As Inside Higher Ed recently reported, more law schools are embracing AI, reflecting a profession already reshaped by tools such as ChatGPT, CoCounsel, and Lexis+ AI. Nearly all executives responding to a 2024 LexisNexis survey of Am Law 200 firms indicated they expect investment in generative AI technologies to increase over the next five years, with nearly half currently exploring new lines of business or billable opportunities made possible by generative AI. For today’s students, the challenge isn’t just learning the law; it’s learning how to practice it effectively in a world where AI is part of the workflow.
Practicing the Lawyer’s Craft
Legal education has long wrestled with the gap between theory and practice. Now, that divide is widening as routine legal tasks—such as document review or research—become more automated, shifting a lawyer’s focus to client communication and strategic analysis. Students need more than just exposure to these tools; they will need hands-on experience as clients begin to expect the incorporation of AI into a firm’s offered services.
Through Forage simulations from leading firms such as White & Case, Kilpatrick Townsend, and Latham & Watkins, students step into the shoes of associates to practice real responsibilities: drafting privileged correspondence, conducting due diligence, preparing litigation letters, and even pitching strategies to clients.
By collaborating with the top law student resource in BARBRI, Forage virtual simulations gain a wider exposure to students globally as they utilize these services in preparation for SQEs or U.S. bar exams. These collaborations bring experiential learning to thousands of aspiring lawyers, enhancing their skills as part of their journey to workplace readiness. With Forage simulations appearing alongside essential study materials, employers know that students are receiving the most modern legal training.
These simulations aren’t classroom hypotheticals. They mirror the work that junior lawyers can expect to take on from day one, building confidence in the skills that matter most.
Strengthening Skills AI Can’t Replace
Generative AI may draft contracts or surface relevant case law, but it can’t replace human judgment, communication, or empathy. Forage simulations give students the chance to practice and hone valuable client-facing interactions, supporting their transition of theoretical knowledge into practical application. In White & Case’s Intellectual Property simulation, candidates draft client memos and respond to “cease and desist” letters. In Kilpatrick Townsend’s Corporate Law experience, they conduct due diligence while executing redlines in a contract negotiation. Through the Latham & Watkins Antitrust module, students conduct internal antitrust investigations as part of witness preparation.
Equally important, law students and recent grads sharpen the skills needed to check AI’s work, such as spotting inaccuracies, evaluating sources, thinking critically, and writing with clarity. These abilities are exactly what law firms emphasize when hiring: AI fluency paired with ethical human judgment.
Outcomes That Matter
For law firms, corporate counsel, and legal organizations competing for top talent, virtual career experiences such as those offered by Forage bring measurable advantages. Being integrated with a globally recognized legal exam prep such as BARBRI guarantees a firm’s brand visibility in an overcrowded market. Hiring managers recognize that graduates who have completed Forage simulations often signal the combination of ability and engagement that is highly desirable in junior associates. The outcomes are evident. Eighty-seven percent of Forage learners reported gaining new, practical skills. Students who complete a Forage job simulation are 2× more likely to get an interview and 3× more likely to receive a job offer. Beyond the marketing impact, participation in Forage simulations translates into more efficient onboarding and quicker contributions from new hires. Firms that focus on building AI fluency alongside real-world training aren’t just winning talent today; they are future-proofing their workforce.
The Path Forward
Firms that focus on building AI fluency alongside real-world training aren’t just winning talent today—they’re shaping a generation of lawyers ready to practice with confidence.
See how Forage helps forward-thinking organizations build a workforce ready to thrive in an AI-enabled future.
