Across the world, legal systems are racing to keep pace with transformative technologies such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, and data analytics—tools that continue to redefine the meaning of innovation and entrepreneurship. As one of the nation’s top public law schools, the UNC School of Law is deeply engaged in examining how law can both empower and responsibly regulate this new frontier.
From AI-driven contract intelligence to global data privacy rules, 2025 has seen significant developments shaping how startups and established enterprises alike navigate legal uncertainty. According to Thomson Reuters’ State of the U.S. Legal Market 2025 report, law firms and corporations are rapidly adopting new models that integrate legal technology to improve client outcomes and compliance. Similarly, legal experts worldwide highlight artificial intelligence, ESG accountability, and cross-border data regulation as the year’s most pressing business-law concerns.
Carolina Law faculty and students are responding to these challenges by advancing research and practice at the intersection of law, technology, and enterprise. Through real-world clinics, externships, and policy initiatives, the Law School equips future lawyers to advise on complex issues such as intellectual property in AI-generated works, the enforceability of blockchain contracts, and the ethical dimensions of algorithmic accountability. “Generative AI challenges not only existing laws but also the assumptions behind them,” says Dustin Marlan, Associate Professor of Law and Director of the Intellectual Property Clinic. “In trademark and copyright law, questions of authorship, identity, and authenticity are being rewritten in real time. Our students learn to see AI not as a magic solution but as a mirror that reflects deeper questions about responsibility and what it means to create or innovate in a human sense.” The Law School’s commitment to interdisciplinary excellence not only prepares graduates to serve as outstanding lawyers and leaders but also positions them to shape a more resilient, innovation-ready global economy.
In the entrepreneurial world, legal foresight is increasingly seen as a catalyst rather than a constraint. A 2025 analysis from Entrepreneur magazine noted that embedding proactive legal frameworks early in business design can accelerate growth, build trust, and create competitive advantage. Meanwhile, social entrepreneurship conferences hosted by peer institutions have emphasized integrating legal innovation with sustainable business models, aligning with Carolina Law’s mission of service and societal impact.
Carolina Law’s distinguished faculty continue to contribute to national thought leadership in areas such as technology governance, startup regulation, and intellectual property strategy. Students working through its entrepreneurship clinic gain firsthand experience helping innovators transform smart ideas into viable, ethical ventures—reflecting the Law School’s strategic vision of marrying academic rigor with community progress.
As these global legal issues evolve, Carolina Law remains steadfast in preparing the next generation of legal professionals to meet them: with skill, with insight, and with the collaborative spirit that defines the Carolina community.
Looking Forward,
Aaron C. Gard
Executive Director, Institute for Innovation