With AI, we can … Find our most confident voice

Case Western Reserve University School of Law student Vanessa Pilátová (CWR ’21) has learned about artificial intelligence landmines—from potential risks to client confidentiality to fake court cases in legal briefs created by AI “hallucinations.”

But she also has experienced the benefits in a big way. Earlier this year, Pilátová won the Rhetoric Moot Court Madness competition, which brought together 64 students representing 27 law schools and 17 states. It was, according to the CWRU law school, the first such AI-judged matchup.

“The feedback was amazing.” —Vanessa Pilátová, a third-year law student

Pilátová loved the competition, which had students make 10-minute legal arguments as if presenting to a court. It was judged by Cicero, an AI tool for law developed by Rhetoric. But the best part: Students could record practice sessions and get Cicero’s immediate critique.

”Practicing public speaking by myself with an AI tool helped me be my most confident self. I wish I had something like this as an undergrad or in high school.”