YEREVAN, Armenia — In June, the American University of Armenia (AUA) Master of Laws (LL.M.) Program Chair Adelaida Baghdasaryan attended two leading international conferences: the European Network of Clinical Legal Education Conference (ENCLE) in Edinburgh and Legal Tech Talk 2026 in London. ENCLE aims to gather people around the globe to exchange perspectives and collaborate in legal, educational, and organizational settings to advocate for justice and teaching through clinical legal education. Legal Tech Talk organizes in-person gatherings in London to share insights and generate conversations within the legal innovation community.
During the ENCLE conference, law clinics from across the globe shared approaches to experiential learning, with particular attention to AI, virtual reality, simulation, and gamification. The discussions examined how clinics can help students develop practical legal skills, professional judgment, and confidence before working with clients.
Legal Tech Talk brought together more than 100 legal technology companies presenting IT and AI solutions for legal professionals across litigation, transactional work, legal translation, notarization, and other practice areas. The two conferences raised a central question for legal education: as artificial intelligence (AI) takes on more routine legal tasks, how will new lawyers gain the experience traditionally developed through junior associate work?
Reflecting on the importance of the conferences, Baghdasaryan said the conferences support the advancement of legal education. “The significance of these conferences is detrimental to the development of legal education. ENCLE discloses the cutting-edge educational methods designed for lawyers, and LTT shows the technology designed for legal professionals,” she highlighted.
With the development of AI, the legal field may be at risk, and relying on skills and developing a reputation is essential. “As with the development of legal technology, there is a concern that lawyers would lose their jobs, and partially this is correct. Only highly professional, knowledgeable, and skilled lawyers will stay in the profession; those who would build their reputation through stellar practice and would use technology in an ethical and efficient manner,” she emphasized.
The events offered alternate perspectives on the legal field and that restructuring legal education is necessary. “Legal programs now have to restructure their legal clinical education, giving more practical opportunities for the students to practice law while studying as well as using legal tech tools ethically and effectively. After these conferences, I am organizing a legal tech course for law students where cutting-edge global legal tech providers will be presenting their innovative solutions,” she noted.
The LL.M. program’s ADR Clinic and Tech and Innovation Law Clinic contribute to this conversation by offering students practical, technology-aware, and client-centered legal training. The Program gratefully acknowledges the Raoul Wallenberg Institute Yerevan Office for supporting participation in the ENCLE Conference.
Founded in 1991, the American University of Armenia (AUA) is a private, independent university located in Yerevan, Armenia, affiliated with the University of California, and accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) in the United States. AUA provides local and international students with Western-style education through top-quality undergraduate and graduate degree and certificate programs, promotes research and innovation, encourages civic engagement and community service, and fosters democratic values.