Published 15-03-2026
Keywords
- legal technology (LegalTech),
- artificial intelligence,
- legal education,
- legal technology skills,
- moral responsibility,
- Catholic university identity
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Abstract
The emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) and its widespread accessibility in everyday life are fundamentally reshaping the legal profession and increasingly require legal education to adapt to new technological and societal conditions. This study presents the experience of the Faculty of Law and Political Sciences at Pázmány Péter Catholic University, which became the first Hungarian institution of legal education to introduce university-level instruction in legal technology following the appearance of ChatGPT, launching two new undergraduate courses dedicated to the field. Building on decades of teaching legal informatics, the programme integrates interdisciplinary competencies, such as design thinking, project management, and business-oriented approaches to legal services, with the pedagogical use of AI-based tools, including generative language models. Drawing on five semesters of teaching experience and student feedback, the study demonstrates that law students are receptive to technology-supported learning methods when these are accompanied by clear methodological frameworks and interdisciplinary cooperation.
Beyond technological and pedagogical considerations, the study situates the teaching of legal technology within the context of Catholic university identity and the Catholic intellectual tradition. Drawing on the teachings of Pope Francis and the principles articulated in Gravissimum educationis, it argues that Catholic universities hold a distinctive responsibility in the age of AI, to form lawyers who integrate technological competence with moral responsibility, a deep respect for human dignity, and a commitment to the common good. When guided by the principles of Catholic social teaching, the integration of LegalTech into legal education can foster critical thinking, ethical sensitivity, and the development of character. The study concludes that legal technology education, when grounded in Catholic values, can prepare future lawyers to navigate an AI-shaped legal environment with wisdom, integrity, and a steadfast commitment to justice.