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Project title: Beyond the Books: Law Students’ Use, Preparedness, and Perceptions of Generative Artificial Intelligence
Lead researcher: Hannah Rosborough, Law Librarian, Schulich School of Law, Dalhousie University
Other researchers: Anthony Rosborough, Assistant Professor of Law and Computer Science, Dalhousie University
Funding provided by: Canadian Bar Association Law for the Future Fund
Introduction
We invite you to take part in a research study being conducted by, Hannah Rosborough, who is a Law Librarian at Dalhousie University. Choosing whether or not to take part in this research is entirely your choice. Your decision whether or not to participate will not affect your studies, evaluations, or employment opportunities. The information below tells you about what is involved in the research, what you will be asked to do and about any benefit, risk, inconvenience or discomfort that you might experience. If you have questions about the research study, please contact hannah.rosborough@dal.ca.
Purpose and Outline of the Research Study
This study explores how Canadian law students are using generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools during their legal education and legal workplace employment experiences. As generative AI tools become more common in legal research, writing, and administrative work, it is important to understand how emerging legal professionals are engaging with these technologies. The survey asks about students' use, prepardeness, and perceptions of generative AI.
The findings aim to inform legal educators, regulators, and employers about the development of technological competencies among future lawyers. In particular, the study seeks to contribute to understanding the technological competency requirement outlined in the Federation of Law Societies of Canada's Model Code of Professional Conduct (see 3.1-2, Commentary 4[A]-[B]).
The dataset has potential to be used as a comparator as legal technology evolves and will contribute to a variety of research outputs including research articles, reports, and presentations. Participation is voluntary. All survey responses are anonymous and will be kept confidential.
Who Can Take Part in the Research Study
You may participate if you: - Are currently enrolled in a Canadian Juris Doctor (JD) program;
- Graduated from a Canadian JD program in Spring 2025;
- Are able to complete the survey in English.
Participants in non-JD programs (e.g., LLM, paralegal programs) are not be eligible.
What You Will be Asked to Do
If you agree to participate, you will complete an online survey that will take approximately 10–15 minutes. The survey includes questions about your use of generative AI in your legal education and, if you have employment experience, your legal workplace. At the end of the survey, you may choose to provide your email address if you wish to enter a draw for one of five $100.00 Visa gift cards. Entering the draw is optional.
Possible Benefits, Risks and Discomforts
Your insights will contribute to a better understanding of how generative AI tools are being used in legal education and practice. The goal of the study is to improve legal education surrounding generative AI and improve the understanding of “technological competency” as outlined in the Federation of Law Societies Model Code of Conduct (See 3.1-2, Commentary 4[A]-[B]). Risks are minimal and comparable to everyday activities.
Incentives
There will be a draw for five $100 Visa gift cards. Five participants will be randomly selected to each receive one card. Entering the draw is optional. There will be an option to provide your email address as a ballot for the draw upon completing the survey. The contact information (email) provided for the draw will be stored in OneDrive separate from the survey responses. Your email cannot be linked to your survey responses. The draw will occur the week the survey closes. Your email will be deleted immediately following the draw.
How Your Information Will be Protected
Your participation will be kept confidential. Survey data will be stored securely in Dalhousie University's approved OneDrive system, which complies with Canadian privacy legislation. No personal information will be recorded unless you enter the optional draw for a gift card. Personally identifying information (email addresses for optional gift card draw) will be stored separately from survey responses. It will not be possible to link optional personal information with survey responses. Data will be encrypted and password-protected following Dalhousie’s electronic data storage guidelines​. Only the researcher and research team will have access to the data. Your survey responses will be reported only in aggregated form so that you cannot be identified. Your anonymized data will be stored securely for an indefinite period for use in future longitudinal studies to track changes over time. Ongoing storage of data is optional and does not affect your participation in the current study.
If You Decide to Stop Participating
Participation is voluntary. You may stop participating at any time by closing your browser window. Responses completed before you exit the survey will be retained. Because the survey is anonymous, it will not be possible to withdraw your responses once they have been submitted.
How to Obtain Results
Any research output that compile survey findings will be made openly available on the Schulich Law Research Portal. If you wish to receive a copy, please contact the lead researcher.
Questions
If you have any questions about the study, please contact the lead researcher:
Hannah Rosborough (hannah.rosborough@dal.ca)
If you have ethical concerns about your participation, you may contact Dalhousie Research Ethics at (902) 494-3423 or ethics@dal.ca (reference REB file #: 2025-7867). Consent to participate will be requested on the following page. |
