Summary: University of Miami School of Law student Janaye Dowers is researching how artificial intelligence intersects with data privacy, legal ethics and professional responsibility as AI becomes more widely adopted across the legal industry. Her work reflects a broader shift in legal education, where students are increasingly studying the governance and risks of AI alongside traditional legal doctrine. The research also highlights questions facing law firms across South Florida as they integrate AI into legal research, contract review and client services while navigating confidentiality, bias and regulatory obligations.
Artificial intelligence is moving into legal practice faster than many legal institutions can adapt.
That tension is at the centre of University of Miami School of Law student Janaye Dowers' research, which explores how AI intersects with data privacy and the ethical responsibilities of legal professionals.
As law firms increasingly experiment with generative AI for legal research, contract drafting and document review, questions about confidentiality, governance and professional responsibility are becoming more pressing.
Those questions are no longer theoretical.
Recent cases involving lawyers submitting AI-generated fictitious legal citations have prompted sanctions and renewed attention from courts and bar associations, while legal regulators continue developing guidance for the responsible use of AI.
Why Privacy Has Become a Central Issue
Legal practice depends on handling highly sensitive information.
Client files often contain medical records, financial information, trade secrets, immigration documents and other confidential material protected by legal and ethical obligations.
When that information is processed through AI systems, firms must consider how data is stored, who has access to it and whether confidential information could be exposed or reused.
Dowers' research examines how existing privacy and ethical frameworks—many developed before the rise of generative AI—apply to technologies capable of analysing large volumes of sensitive information in seconds.
The work reflects a broader challenge facing the legal profession as long-established rules are tested by rapidly evolving technology.
Legal Education Is Evolving
The University of Miami is part of a wider movement across legal education.
Law schools throughout the United States are introducing AI-focused courses, research initiatives and practical training as technology becomes a routine part of legal work.
Future lawyers are increasingly expected to understand not only legal doctrine, but also how AI systems function, where they can add value and where human oversight remains essential.
For students entering the profession today, technical literacy is becoming an important complement to traditional legal analysis.
Miami's Legal Sector Is Watching
The research is particularly relevant for South Florida.
Many law firms with offices in Miami are evaluating or deploying AI tools for legal research, due diligence, document review and administrative workflows while developing internal policies governing their use.
At the same time, Miami's growing legal technology sector is building AI platforms designed specifically for law firms, with a strong emphasis on privacy, security and regulatory compliance.
As firms seek tools that meet professional standards, research into AI governance and data protection is becoming increasingly valuable.
What This Means for Miami
Miami's legal industry is becoming an active participant in AI adoption rather than simply observing it.
As more firms integrate AI into everyday practice, demand is likely to grow for lawyers who understand both legal doctrine and the privacy, ethical and governance challenges that accompany these technologies.
For Miami's legal-tech startups, the message is equally clear. Firms are likely to place increasing value on AI systems designed around confidentiality, compliance and professional responsibility rather than automation alone.
For the University of Miami, research like Dowers' reinforces its role in preparing legal professionals for an industry where AI literacy and sound judgment are becoming essential parts of legal practice.