Fisher Phillips Participates in Landmark Oxford University Study on Lawyers’ Use of GenAI and Prompt Engineering

Fisher Phillips was one of two major law firms that participated in a recently published study by Oxford University that examines how legal professionals develop expertise in Generative AI (GenAI) and prompt engineering. The study, titled Prompt Engineering as Substantive and Relational Expertise: Linking Professionals' Learning Pathways to Boundary Work (Rodgers & Sako, March 17, 2025) examines how different learning pathways influence lawyers’ comfort and competence in using GenAI tools.

The Oxford researchers identified three distinct learning pathways among professionals adopting GenAI: directly engaging with GenAI tools, collaborating with technical experts, or avoiding the technology altogether. Their findings suggest that lawyers who actively engage and build prompt engineering expertise are more likely to integrate GenAI effectively into their workflows—enhancing rather than diminishing their professional roles. The study is now under peer review.

To access the study, please click here.