AI's Impact on Law & Education: A Conversation with Quaime Lee

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Quaime Lee serves as the Assistant Dean at Northeastern University Law School, where he leads the Center for Co-op and Career Development. With over a decade of experience in career advising since 2011, Quaime brings valuable insights into how education is evolving in response to technological advances, particularly artificial intelligence. During our walk around Northeastern's historic campus, Quaime shared the university's unique co-op program that has been running for 115 years, allowing students to gain real-world work experience while pursuing their degrees. We discussed how AI is impacting legal education, the importance of experiential learning, and the role of mentorship in professional development. The conversation also touched on deeper themes of human connection, diversity, and the challenges facing higher education in an increasingly polarized world.

Some key takeaways from our conversation:

1. Northeastern's co-op program provides students with real-world work experience by allowing them to work full-time with employers for 4-6 months while pursuing their degree. This experiential learning helps students test their assumptions about career paths and gain practical skills that traditional internships might not provide. The program's success lies in its ability to give students a realistic picture of their chosen industry during regular business cycles, not just during summer internships.

2. The role of libraries in universities is transforming from being primarily archives of physical books to becoming collaborative spaces where students can work together on projects. This shift reflects broader changes in how information is accessed and how learning environments are being redesigned to foster more interaction and community building among students. The emphasis is increasingly on creating spaces that support different types of learning and collaboration.

3. Professional identity formation is becoming increasingly important in legal education and other fields. This involves helping students understand the critical values and skills needed for mastery in their industry, while also teaching them how to market themselves effectively to employers. The focus is not just on academic excellence but on developing a holistic understanding of what excellence looks like in their chosen field.

4. The concept of "Ikigai" (the intersection of what you're good at, what you like, what you get paid for, and what the world needs) provides a framework for understanding career satisfaction. Students often expect their first job to fulfill all these aspects, but it's important to recognize that different jobs might fulfill different quadrants, and finding complete fulfillment might require looking beyond just one's career.

5. The impact of artificial intelligence on education requires a fundamental rethinking of assessment methods and learning objectives. Rather than focusing on detecting AI usage in student work, educators should consider how to reshape the learning experience to preserve academic integrity while acknowledging that traditional methods may no longer be relevant. The goal should be to develop critical thinking skills that AI cannot replicate.

6. The importance of first impressions and perception in professional settings cannot be underestimated. Understanding that perception often becomes reality is crucial for professional success, and students need to learn how to manage these perceptions effectively. This includes understanding unwritten rules and professional etiquette that might not be explicitly taught in academic settings.

7. In an increasingly polarized world, educational institutions face the challenge of maintaining spaces for open dialogue and diverse perspectives. The ability to engage with different viewpoints and recognize the humanity in others, even those with whom we disagree, is crucial for both personal growth and professional development. This skill becomes particularly important in building professional networks and maintaining productive workplace relationships.