Kapiʻolani CC pioneers AI-powered paralegal training

Kimberly Koide Iwao, Kapiʻolani CC Legal Education Program coordinator

Kapiʻolani Community College’s Legal Education Program is the first paralegal program in the U.S. to partner with Wickard.ai to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) education into its curriculum. Students and faculty are gaining specialized training in AI applications for the legal field—in an industry-leading initiative.

The pilot program provides faculty and select students with free access to Wickard.ai’s certification course, offering a deep dive into large language models, AI-powered legal tools, and emerging regulations. Plans are already in place to expand access to all paralegal students.

“This certification represents a groundbreaking step forward for paralegal education,” said Kimberly Koide Iwao, Legal Education Program coordinator. “As AI continues to reshape the legal industry, it is essential that paralegals gain the skills to work effectively with and alongside these technologies.”

With Hawaiʻi’s only American Bar Association-approved paralegal program, Kapiʻolani CC has advanced workforce innovation. Chancellor Misaki Takabayashi sees this AI integration as a next step.

“Our Paralegal Program has always led the frontline of innovation,” said Takabayashi. “I hope this is the first of many areas where we partner with the AI industry to prepare our Kapiʻolani CC learners to be at the cutting edge of workforce transformation.”

The course is taught by legal AI expert Oliver Roberts, who is co-head of the AI Practice Group at Holtzman Vogel, editor-in-chief of AI and the Law at The National Law Review, founder and CEO of Wickard.ai, and an adjunct professor of law at Case Western Reserve University School of Law. It culminates in a Legal AI certification exam. 

“This program is setting a precedent for how paralegals can integrate AI into their work,” said Roberts. “It’s an honor to collaborate on such an innovative initiative.”