Redefining Legal Education in the Technology Era
Professor prepares students for current technological trends
In the bustling halls of the University of Kansas School of Law, Professor Andrew W. Torrance is redefining the future of legal education. Known for his academic versatility and engaging teaching style, Torrance has established a groundbreaking class that melds traditional legal principles with cutting-edge technology: Legal Analytics.
From his early days in Toronto, Canada, to earning a Ph.D. in genetics at Harvard University and a J.D. from Harvard Law School, Torrance’s journey into the legal profession has been anything but conventional. His background has uniquely positioned him to approach legal education with an interdisciplinary flair.
During his Ph.D. studies, Torrance developed a passion for environmental issues and began considering how he could make a meaningful impact on the world. During a class on biodiversity taught by renowned biologist professor, E.O. Wilson, a guest speaker named Norman Myers, himself also a famous biologist, encouraged him to pursue a career in law, remarking that "those guys have the real power."
Before becoming a professor, Torrance navigated the world of intellectual property law at Fish & Richardson P.C. in Boston, one of the leading global firms in the field. While there, he focused on patent law, including prosecution and litigation, while finding time for pro bono work for an environmental group based in the U.S. Virgin Islands. He later became in-house patent counsel for Inverness Medical Innovations, now Alere, and worked on patent matters, including contracts and licenses, for the company all around the world.
A job posting in the Chronicle of Higher Education for an intellectual property professor with a biological science background drew Torrance to KU. He joined KU Law in 2005, bringing with him a vision for integrating law, science and innovation.
“I have a wonderful memory of staying at the SpringHill Suites by the Bowersock Dam with my family, and Dean Steve McAllister coming and meeting us for breakfast, and literally bouncing my baby boy, Darwin, on his knee,” he said. “And I thought, if the dean of this law school is willing to show such care for my children, this is a great place to be.”
Since joining the KU Law family, Torrance has taught more than ten different classes, all of which he designed himself: Intellectual Property, Patent Law, Biolaw, Food and Drug Law, Biodiversity Law, several graduate seminars, and, most popularly, Legal Analytics.
In 2018, Torrance introduced the idea of a class to Dean Mazza that directly addresses one of the legal profession’s emerging challenges: the integration of data, technology and computation into legal practice. The Legal Analytics course equips students with essential skills in data analysis, statistical reasoning and artificial intelligence (AI), topics often neglected in traditional law courses. Designed to demystify quantitative methods for students often intimidated by numbers, the course aims to make these tools accessible and practical for legal applications.
“I thought that there was a place for a class that would explicitly teach law students how to understand and how to effectively use quantitative techniques,” he said. “But I also realized that I had to do it in a way that was interesting and fun, and that didn't scare them.”
Through engaging, hands-on individual and team projects, students delve into topics like probability, data cleaning, interpreting real-world datasets and mastering AI. One early exercise involved analyzing national human trafficking data, challenging students to identify patterns, gaps and legal implications. This practical approach not only builds technical skills but also fosters critical thinking about data quality and its impact on legal outcomes.
The class’s scope extends beyond statistical analysis, incorporating advanced legal software and AI tools. Students work with programs like Blue Jay Legal, which offers tax law insights; Lex Machina, a tool for profiling judges and predicting litigation outcomes; DoNotPay, an AI that automates parking ticket challenges; and PatentVector, a powerful patent analytics system powered by network science and neural networks. These tools enable students to see how technology can enhance legal strategy and
decision-making.
The course’s focus on AI not only prepares students for current technological trends but also encourages them to think critically about the role of AI in justice. Torrance’s motto for the class underscores this philosophy: “Be the lawyer who masters AI, not the lawyer who is run over by it.”
Legal Analytics has quickly gained traction, becoming one of KU Law’s largest non-first-year classes. Its success highlights a growing recognition of the importance of tech-savvy lawyers in every legal field. Torrance believes that these concepts will eventually permeate the broader curriculum, enhancing areas like torts, property and criminal law.
“When I took the class, it was at 8 a.m., it was the most enrolled in elective class that semester,” said former KU Law student Amy Allshouse. “I think that says how important it was and how many people found it really interesting how lawyers can use data in cases. It's just something that we don't normally get taught.”
Torrance also sees an opportunity to expand these lessons to alumni and practicing lawyers. Since 2019, he has conducted educational sessions on legal analytics, including quantitative techniques and AI, for state and federal judges, city and state bar associations and law firms.
“The way that I think about legal education is that the three years of being a law student is just the beginning. Alumni should be able to dip back into the law school for insights, training and refreshment of their skills during their whole careers,” he said.
While championing AI’s potential, Torrance is equally mindful of its risks.
“Lacking an appreciation of what AI is good at and what it's bad at is a terrible blind spot for an attorney,” he said. “I worry about people who will get sucked into using it without understanding how it works. They will misuse it. And, what's worse, sometimes they'll have no idea that they have misused it.”
A key component of the course is teaching students to discern reliable data from flawed or misleading information. This skill is particularly vital in a field where visual aids like graphs can sway court decisions. Torrance’s class includes exercises on critiquing and creating fair representations of data, ensuring students can challenge deceptive presentations effectively.
By the end of the semester, Torrance’s students leave with a comprehensive toolkit: the ability to analyze and interpret data, use advanced software and integrate these skills into practical legal contexts. As an example, his 2023 Legal Analytics students not only drafted contracts for the purchase of a falcon, including robust warranty sections, they also worked closely with a KU computer science master’s student to create a machine learning program that helped U.S. military veterans appeal denials of benefits. In this year’s class, every student will learn how to code up their own software program for solving a legal problem of their choice – with help from AI, of course. For many, the class transforms their perspective on law and technology.
This impact extends beyond the classroom. Alumni like Blake Ronnebaum, L’20, have reported its long-term benefits in their careers.
Ronnebaum studied chemical engineering at Kansas State University and was inspired by his sister-in-law to attend KU Law. He took Professor Torrance’s class the first semester it was offered in 2018. Now an associate in Polsinelli’s Chemical Science Patent Prosecution practice in Kansas City, he says he utilizes the lessons he learned in Legal Analytics daily.
“The people I argue with are also scientists and engineers, and have, in many cases, a better understanding of data and statistics than I do. I think it’s helpful to really scrutinize the data that I've been putting in my response to the patent office and scrutinize the data the patent office is relying on to reject my client's applications,” he said. “I think it's made me a better lawyer in that respect.”
Through Legal Analytics, KU Law is ensuring its students are ready to meet the demands of a legal field increasingly shaped by technology and data analysis.
“I think it was one of the best courses that I could have taken throughout all of law school, because it prepared us for what is happening now, which I figured was 20 years away,” said Ronnebaum. “I commend Professor Torrance and the law school for taking it on and preparing us at a time when we didn't realize that it was going to be so relevant.”
As technology continues to reshape the legal profession, Torrance’s work demonstrates how education can stay ahead of the curve. His class is not merely about mastering tools but fostering a mindset of adaptability and innovation.
“I think that if we could expose students to these ideas and skills when they're in law school, so they know that they're available, master their use and develop a rigorous and thoughtful approach to applying them, this will all bear tremendous fruit when those students begin to practice law,” Torrance said. “They'll be better lawyers. They'll be more efficient lawyers. They'll be more successful lawyers. In short, they'll have a competitive advantage over lawyers from law schools that fail to teach this vital subject, allowing them to achieve more success, enjoyment and fulfillment in their careers.”
This article appeared in print in the 2024 KU Law Magazine.