Editing with ChatGPT: Taking Advantage of Tools that Allow us to Place the Focus Back on Legal Analysis in the Classroom

Increasingly, legal writing educators are serving as English Composition teachers to help law students elevate their writing to the level necessary for effective communication in academic and professional settings. However, teaching legal analysis is a complex skill that also requires significant time in the classroom and is really meant to be the focus of legal writing courses. Time spent on grammar and editing skills is time taken from mastering legal analysis. Though there are many reasons to fear ChatGPT, there are also positive uses for it that if introduced and used strategically can allow us to refocus student learning. This presentation explores the potential application of ChatGPT in improving these skills for law students rather than using class time. The proposed application of ChatGPT focuses on providing students with a valuable tool to assist them in honing their grammar and editing capabilities. The implementation of ChatGPT for grammar and editing skill enhancement involves three primary methods. ChatGPT can serve as an interactive grammar tutor, enabling students to seek clarification on grammar rules, syntax, and appropriate word usage. By engaging with the AI model, students can reinforce their understanding of complex grammar concepts and develop their skills through personalized, instantaneous feedback. The AI model can identify and correct grammatical errors, suggest improvements for sentence structure and word choice, and offer guidance on stylistic consistency, resulting in an overall enhancement of the student\u27s writing. Finally, ChatGPT can be utilized as a collaborative writing partner, supporting students in the drafting and refining of their assignments. This interactive approach encourages students to think critically about their writing and make informed decisions on the appropriate revisions to improve their work. The combination of these methods facilitates an engaging, student-centered learning experience, empowering law students to take ownership of their grammar and editing skills development