AI and the Future of Law How AI Is Changing Contract Law with Dave Hoffman
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Mar 24, 2026 Dave Hoffman, a University of Pennsylvania law professor focused on contracts and AI, joins to discuss how large language models are reshaping contract interpretation and legal training. He recounts using Claude for large-scale analysis, experiments comparing model and human gap-filling, and how automation could change transactional lawyering. They also cover shifts in legal education and the idea of crafting widely usable legal tools.
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A Judge Tested LLM Reasoning In Published Opinions
- Judge Newsom on the 11th Circuit used Hoffman's article and LLM reasoning in two cases and received pushback.
- The judge juxtaposed traditional methods with an LLM output to show convergent reasoning and calibration value.
Explainability Versus Better Prediction In Courts
- Judges worry about explainability because citing a dictionary page feels transparent while model reasoning does not.
- Hoffman argues legal precedent resists change, so comparing LLMs to the current incoherent methods is critical to evaluate usefulness.
Publish Faster Research Built For Changing Models
- Design research questions that are robust to rapid model improvements and publish shorter, faster interventions.
- Hoffman recommends moving away from lengthy papers toward timely pieces and empirical head-to-head tests between humans and machines.