AI on Trial: SKEMA Lille Hosts Its First Night of Law

Designed as an immersive dive into the realities of legal practice, the event brought together students, faculty, and legal professionals for an original program combining a mock CRFPA Grand Oral and a fictional trial in which artificial intelligence was placed in the defendant's seat.

"This first Night of Law exceeded our expectations. Students fully engaged in every part of the evening, and the guest experts embraced the experience with enthusiasm. Our goal was to create an event that was both academically rigorous and accessible in format. The result was a success: the discussions were rich, the debates compelling, and the topic of artificial intelligence sparked genuine collective reflection," said Isabelle Bufflier.

A Real-World Legal Experience

The evening opened with a simulation of the CRFPA Grand Oral, organized in partnership with the student association Pourparlers. Students were able to tackle one of the most challenging exercises aspiring lawyers face, under the watchful eye of experienced legal professionals.

For Manon Duffy, a second-year student in the double-degree program, the exercise proved invaluable:

"This simulation was extremely helpful because it gave me direct feedback from legal professionals on how to approach a law oral exam, both in terms of content and presentation. I was able to improve my structure, argumentation, speaking skills, and my ability to respond effectively to questions from the panel."

Beyond the technical preparation, the experience also helped participants build confidence in an environment closely resembling professional examinations and competitive legal assessments.

Artificial Intelligence Faces Justice

The highlight of the evening was undoubtedly the mock trial of AI, which put generative artificial intelligence on trial. Students took on the roles of attorneys, assessors, and representatives of various stakeholders, while legal experts brought professional insight to the proceedings.

Joining the debate were Geoffroy Hilger, a professional magistrate, along with two specialist attorneys: Maître Elgarni, an IT and Data lawyer at Joffre & Associés, and Maître Renaud, an intellectual property and artificial intelligence specialist at Squair.

Through realistic case studies inspired by real-world situations, participants explored some of the most pressing legal questions surrounding the rapid development of AI, including liability, intellectual property, content creation, and data protection.

"The AI trial was both fascinating and entertaining," recalled Manon Duffy. "The experts shared their legal perspectives on a topic that is playing an increasingly important role in our lives. Beyond the courtroom setting, the discussion addressed genuine societal challenges."

Charles de Mascureau, also a student in the master's program, echoed that view:

"The topic of AI was particularly relevant because it affects our everyday lives and allowed everyone to relate to the issues being discussed. The lawyers' contributions were invaluable, and the active involvement of several students made the exercise especially engaging."

An Evening to Remember

Beyond the legal and academic learning experience, participants will remember an event that successfully combined intellectual rigor, hands-on learning, humor, and lively debate. Isabelle Bufflier described the evening as "memorable, insightful, and full of humor," feedback shared by both students and guest speakers alike.

For Juliane Loustalneau, the event offered "a new perspective on artificial intelligence and the legal challenges raised by its growing importance."

A successful first edition, the Night of Law perfectly illustrates the mission of SKEMA's Master in Business Law: exposing students to today's legal challenges while preparing them concretely for the realities of their future profession.

Learn more about SKEMA's Master in Management program