Singapore Law Students Get Free AI Tool for Legal Studies

Law students in Singapore are getting hands-on experience with the same AI tools they'll use in their future careers, thanks to a new partnership between NUS Law and legal AI company Harvey.

Starting now, all students and faculty at the National University of Singapore's Faculty of Law can access Harvey's platform at no cost. The AI tool, designed specifically for legal work, is already being used by law firms and legal departments across Singapore and beyond.

The partnership makes NUS Law the first law school in Singapore to integrate Harvey into its curriculum. Students will use the platform in their coursework while learning to evaluate its outputs critically and use it responsibly.

WongPartnership, Singapore's first law firm to adopt Harvey, helped connect the university with the tech company. The firm saw an opportunity to ensure graduates arrive at their first jobs already familiar with tools that are reshaping legal practice.

NUS Libraries will provide training sessions and include Harvey in its information literacy programs. Meanwhile, faculty members plan to study how students actually use AI in their studies, using those insights to shape future teaching approaches.

The move comes as law schools worldwide wrestle with a key question: how do you introduce powerful AI tools without weakening training in fundamental legal skills like analysis and judgment?

NUS Law's answer is to provide access while emphasizing that AI doesn't replace core legal thinking. Dean Andrew Simester said the goal is ensuring students engage with these tools "thoughtfully, critically and responsibly" rather than treating them as shortcuts.

The Ripple Effect

This partnership could influence how legal education evolves across Asia. Harvey already works with law schools at the University of Sydney and the University of Technology Sydney, and the company is rapidly expanding its Singapore operations.

Harvey expects to grow its Singapore team from current levels to about 15 people by the end of 2026 and roughly 40 by mid-2027. The company has hired dedicated recruiters locally to support that growth.

For students, the benefit is clear: they'll graduate already comfortable with technology that's becoming standard in legal workplaces. For the profession, it means new lawyers who understand both the power and limitations of AI tools.

The collaboration reflects a broader shift in how universities, employers and tech companies are working together to prepare students for rapidly changing workplaces. Rather than teaching AI as a separate subject, NUS Law is weaving it into the fabric of legal education.

Students will still need to master legal research, analysis and writing, but they'll do so in a world where AI is part of the toolkit.