CURRENT POSITION Associate Director for Public Services, University of Wisconsin Law School DEGREE JD, University of Wisconsin Law School, 2020; MLIS, University of Wisconsin, 2012 FAST FACT Turner’s teaching and public speaking skills were enhanced through improv classes and hosting bar trivia. FOLLOW linkedin.com/in/kris-turner-lawlib; wilawinaction.law.wisc.edu Photo by Kassandra Tuten

AI Meets Legal

Describing himself as “aggressively helpful,” law librarian Kris Turner combines traditional legal research with the evolving generative AI world. “Generative AI technology worries many, creates skepticism in others, and is eagerly embraced by some,” Turner notes. “This wildly disparate level of welcome for GenAI means I especially need to show I am open to questions, challenges, and counterarguments.” He began his educational campaign with a law school class titled “Technology and Artificial Intelligence in Law Practice,” and he also integrates AI literacy into the curriculum for the school’s Advanced Legal Research class. 

Turner presents at both legal and library conferences and other professional development events across the state. “As our GenAI teaching load has risen, our overall reach has gone from hundreds of attendees to thousands with more recurring invitations,” says Turner. “Because we’ve been able to reach so many with our GenAI outreach, it’s been a tide that has lifted all boats, especially for highlighting the unique skills of law librarians.” 

Turner’s passion for this work led to being selected as a top finalist in the Bloomberg Law 2023–24 Law School Innovation Program in the category of “Beyond the Law.” “One of the most exciting aspects of working in both legal research and the GenAI spheres is that they are ever-evolving and in constant demand,” he explains. “This comes with the challenge of staying on top of each change, and how those changes affect responsible and ethical research with these powerful tools.”