Legal Reasoning in the AI Age: UW Law Co-Hosts Global Forum in Hanoi

Published: September 15, 2025

On Aug. 14, 2025, professors Xuan-Thao Nguyen and Mireille Butler of the University of Washington School of Law co-organized an international conference on Legal Reasoning in the AI Age, in collaboration with Vietnam National University (VNU) University of Law (VNU-UL). The event marks the fifth VNU-UL Autumn Law Forum and welcomed participants in-person in Hanoi.

The conference convened legal scholars and practitioners from across Vietnam, Japan, France and Belgium to explore and understand how the rapidly evolving nature of legal reasoning will impact public policy throughout Vietnam. UW Law faculty members Mireille Butler, Jaclyn Celebrezze, David Garavito and Amit Ranade co-chaired sessions and participated in panel discussions on the practical and ethical implications of using AI judicial reasoning and individual attorney practice.

Review the agenda below.

International Conference: Legal Reasoning in the AI Age

Date: Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025
Time: 9 a.m.–4:40 p.m. (Hanoi time)
Venue: Room 703, E1 Building, VNU University of Law and online via Zoom

Morning Sessions

7:45–8:30 a.m. – Registration
8:30–8:40 a.m. – Introduction of guests and participants
8:40–8:50 a.m. – Opening of the Fifth VNU-UL Autumn Law Forum
Assoc. Prof. Trinh Tien Viet, VNU-UL Rector
8:50–9 a.m. – Group photos
9–9:10 a.m. – Opening of the First Thematic Symposium
Assoc. Prof. Nguyen Hoang Anh, VNU-UL Vice Rector
Prof. Mireille Butler, UW School of Law

Session 1: What Do We Mean by Legal Reasoning in the AI Age?

Co-chairs: Assoc. Prof. Nguyen Hoang Anh (VNU-UL), Prof. Mireille Butler (UW School of Law)

9:10–9:25 a.m. – Legal reasoning in the AI age: Possibilities, challenges, and core orientations
Assoc. Prof. Nguyen Minh Tuan, VNU-UL
9:25–9:35 a.m. – Introduction to legal analysis, reasoning, research, and writing
Prof. Mireille Butler, UW School of Law
9:35–9:50 a.m. – Panel: Perspectives on legal reasoning across disciplines
Prof. David Garavito, Prof. Amit Ranade, UW School of Law
9:50–10:15 a.m. – Open discussion
10:15–10:30 a.m. – Tea break

Session 2: AI Legal Research and Drafting Tools

Co-chairs: Dr. Nguyen Bich Thao (VNU-UL), Prof. Jaclyn Celebrezze (UW School of Law)

10:30–11 a.m. – Panel: AI tools in the U.S. and Vietnam
Prof. Mireille Butler, Prof. Jaclyn Celebrezze, Assoc. Prof. Duong Le Minh, Mr. Duong Bao Trung
11–11:10 a.m. – Open discussion

Session 3: AI’s Role in Judicial Legal Reasoning

Co-chairs: Assoc. Prof. Nguyen Minh Tuan (VNU-UL), Prof. Mireille Butler (UW School of Law)

11:10–11:25 a.m. – From “Human Judges” to “Artificial Reasoners”: Challenges of precedent-based reasoning
Dr. Pham Thi Duyen Thao, VNU-UL
11:25 a.m.–noon – Panel discussion
Assoc. Prof. Nguyen Duc Hanh, Dr. Nguyen Hai An, Assoc. Prof. Nguyen Van Quan, Dr. Do Viet Cuong

Noon–1:30 p.m. – Lunch break

Afternoon Sessions

1:30–1:45 p.m. – Registration

Session 4: AI’s Role in Lawyers’ Practice

Co-chairs: Assoc. Prof. Nguyen Minh Tuan (VNU-UL), Dr. Nguyen Thi Minh Hue (Judicial Academy)

1:45–2:45 p.m. – Panel discussion
Prof. Amit Ranade, Dr. Dang The Duc, Dr. Nguyen Thi Minh Hue, Ms. Bui Thu Thao
2:45–3:15 p.m. – Open discussion
3:15–3:30 p.m. – Tea break

Session 5: Legal Education in the Age of AI