The University of Michigan’s student newspaper, The Michigan Daily, has reported on a recent survey conducted by Kaplan, an education provider, regarding pre-law students’ perspectives on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in law school admissions essays. The survey, which garnered over 300 responses, focused on four key areas: the use of AI in admissions essays, transparency regarding AI evaluation, comfort levels with schools not using AI, and potential AI bias.
Key findings from the survey revealed that 89% of respondents believe law schools should disclose their use of AI in evaluating applications, while 80% thought AI could unintentionally perpetuate bias. Experts in the field weighed in on the implications of AI usage in admissions processes. Matthew Bui, assistant professor at the School of Information and Digital Studies Institute, discussed how AI bias in large language models can affect public perception of biases in his course, SI 410: Ethics and Information Technology.
“In the ethics course that I teach, bias is everywhere,” Bui explained. “If data is skewed and then input into these models and used to train them, then those biases might get reproduced and or even amplified as they’re perpetuated through more and more use more broadly.” Carson Byrd, associate research scientist in the Center for the Study of Higher & Postsecondary Education, echoed these concerns, noting that biased AI tools may reinforce racialized, socioeconomic, and gendered inequalities in admissions outcomes.
At the University of Michigan Law School, senior assistant dean Sarah Zearfoss stated that they do not attempt to detect AI in admissions essays, instead relying on applicants to sign a certification confirming they have not used AI. “We don’t attempt to detect it,” Zearfoss said. “We ask that you sign a certification pledging that you have not used AI to draft your essay… So we’re going on faith as it’s a profession where your word is your bond.”
Amit Schlesinger, Kaplan executive director of legal and government programs, emphasized the importance of the admissions essay in setting applicants apart, despite its lesser importance compared to the Law School Admission Test (LSAT). “The LSAT score is certainly more important, but an admissions essay, if written poorly, can harm a student’s application,” Schlesinger said. Second-year Law student Kristia Postema noted that applicants can manipulate AI to produce human-like essays, depending on how they prompt it.
As AI continues to gain popularity and policies remain vague, Schlesinger stressed the importance of reaching out to law schools’ admissions offices for clarity. “I wouldn’t say that admission policies will be overwhelmingly against the use of AI,” Schlesinger said. “But certainly they should and will have a policy that is transparent for the students.” Zearfoss indicated that while the University of Michigan Law School currently does not allow AI usage, this policy could change in the future.
