AI fundamentals
for lawyers
COURSE
Many lawyers use AI without knowing how it works. That is risky. In this course, you will gain a grasp of the technology—from large language models to machine learning—and the legal framework that affects it. You will learn what the AI Act means for you, where the liability risks lie, and how to use AI responsibly in your own practice.
LONG
6 hours
LEVEL
Basic+
LOCATION
The Hague
Next edition:
February 10, 2026
€525 excluding VAT
Small group (max. 15)
Hands-on, practical
PO/PE points: 6
(3 legal and 3 non-legal)
About this course
We start with the basics: what exactly is AI, what technologies does it include, and how do systems such as large language models (LLMs), machine learning and deep learning work at its core? You will learn to distinguish between white box and black box AI, between open source and commercial models, and between supervised and unsupervised learning - with an eye on the legal relevance of these technical differences.
Next, we delve into the legal and ethical framework of AI. What does the AI Act mean for lawyers, and how do European rules relate to Dutch law? What responsibilities do you have as a professional when using AI tools, and what about liability for AI-driven decisions? We pay attention to the tension between AI, privacy and intellectual property, as well as the risks of bias, discrimination and lack of transparency.
In addition, you will gain insight into current applications of AI within different areas of law. Using concrete examples, we will discuss how to use AI responsibly in daily practice. Special attention is paid to confidentiality, data protection and the right to privilege.
This course is designed for lawyers who need a solid foundation: no superficial demos, but a structured and legally thoughtful exploration of AI. You will learn how to better understand, assess and utilize AI in your own legal context.
What's on the program is
The Foundations of AI
What is artificial intelligence
Definitions and core concepts
Machine learning, deep learning and generative AI explained
White box vs. black box AI, open source vs. commercial models, supervised vs. unsupervised learning
How AI systems learn and make decisions
Strengths and weaknesses of current AI technology
Myths and misconceptions about AI debunked
Legal and ethical frameworks
AI Act and other relevant European regulations
Dutch relevant laws and regulations
The tension between AI, privacy and IE
Professional responsibilities in AI use
Bias, discrimination and algorithmic transparency
Liability in AI-driven decisions
Security, confidentiality & privilege
Using AI responsibly
Asking the right questions of suppliers
Ensuring confidentiality
Transparency and accountability
Privacy and data protection in AI use
AI in everyday legal practice
Concrete AI applications in various jurisdictions
Case studies of successful AI implementations
Limits and limitations of AI in legal context
Assess quality and reliability of AI output
When to rely and when not to rely on AI assistance
Interacting with AI: legal prompting
The importance of good prompting
The basics of legal prompt writing
Examples of effective prompts
Preventing hallucinations
Recognizing AI-generated texts
The future of legal work with AI
Current developments around AI
The impact of AI on the practice of law
AI's impact on hiring and training new employees
For whom
This course is designed for legal professionals, including attorneys, judges, prosecutors, employees of the various ministries, employees of enforcement and investigative authorities, and compliance officers, who are interested in improving their understanding and skills in applying language models within their fields.
Participants who want to take advantage of advanced technologies to increase their efficiency, improve their services, and implement innovative solutions in their daily operations will benefit from this course.
The program is also suitable for IT professionals within the legal sector who work with legal teams and are involved in implementing and managing AI technologies.
Your teachers
Precious Chocolate
Legal Technology Consultant
Precious is a lawyer working at the intersection between technology and the law: cybersecurity, privacy and data protection. She has extensive knowledge of the legal, ethical and societal issues associated with artificial intelligence. In addition to technical knowledge, Pres's expertise includes the principles of AI systems, its regulation, and privacy protection. At The Innovative Lawyer, Precious supports legal professionals and organizations in (better) understanding, responsibly applying and implementing this technology in practice. Precious regularly acts as a lecturer and is characterized by her infectious energy, pragmatism, and innovative approach.
Peter Zinn
Cybersecurity Specialist & Speaker
In 1991, while studying computer science, Peter predicted that AI would reach human intelligence within a few decades, to which his philosophy professor vehemently disagreed. The disagreement is still ongoing. In 1992, he lost his first game of grind against a self-written program.
After a career as a software engineer and algorithm designer for smart language matching (but before the introduction of LLMs), he made the move to the Police High Tech Crime Team. Among other things, this gave him a healthy dose of suspicion about the security of new technologies.
Currently, Peter is a speaker and ambassador for AI as well as cybersecurity, two topics with a surprisingly large overlap. He highlights the possibilities behind the bubble, the risks and opportunities of modern AI.
Joyce Boonstra
Former lawyer, Legal Tech Expert & Trainer
Joyce combines two things that rarely go together: a legal background with in-depth technical knowledge of AI. She was one of the first lawyers in the Netherlands to structurally integrate language models into her daily practice. Not as an experiment, but as a working method.
While others were still waiting, Joyce was testing. She knows the possibilities and pitfalls of various tools firsthand. Not from theory, but from hours of practical experience.
That combination makes her training sessions different. No slides full of promises, but concrete applications. No hype, but nuance. And always the question: does this work for your practice?
Practical information
DATE AND TIMES
See below.
COSTS
EUR 525, excluding 21% VAT
METHOD OF PARTICIPATION
This course is only offered in person.
LOCATION
60 Koninginnegracht, The Hague
GROUP SIZE
Maximum of 25 participants
PO/PE POINTS
6 points (legal)
TAKE WITH YOU
A laptop, if necessary, but not essential.