Understanding IT, AI, and the Law

Glynna Christian has spent more than 20 years as a lawyer advising companies on launching new technology and digital products. She's helped clients learn and adapt with each emerging tech platform and system, but nothing has required the amount of attention and continued education needed to keep up with the current AI revolution.  

Christian, partner and head of global technology transactions at law firm Holland & Knight, estimated that 75 percent of her time is devoted to AI-related legal topics.  

“I've never seen technology change and evolve so quickly,” said Christian, who has been in the legal fieldsince the turn of the century. “The legal industry is just trying to keep up with what it means from a risk standpoint for companies.”  

This fall, Christian is bringing her legal expertise to the classroom, where she will teach Law and IT within Northwestern Engineering's Master of Science in Information Technology (MSIT) program. 

Not surprisingly, much of what she'll talk with students about relates to AI.  

“AI has changed the game so much,” she said. “We're helping clients get up to speed on changes to their policies and their procedures for AI, thinking about how to implement responsible AI policies, and how to really evaluate vendors who are providing technology solutions that have an AI component. Everybody's adding AI functionality into their products.”  

All this evolution is happening amidst a confusing legal framework at the state and federal level. In addition, global companies are challenged by the wide variety of international approaches to AI.  

Nearly 80 percent of organizations reported using AI in 2024, according to The 2025 AI Index Report. A Deloitte study found that while 58 percent of organizations are using generative AI, 21 percent of extensive users and 41 percent of limited users have no controls in place.  

This lack of governance could play a major role in influencing how AI impacts organizations — and society at large. Understanding the law is vital to ensuring AI stays within ethical and legal guidelines and serves to help humankind, Christian said.  

Her advice to fellow lawyers mirrors what she plans to teach MSIT students.  

“My mantra is you really need to understand the tech in ways that you've never had to before,” she said.  

That includes educating MSIT students on the language lawyers use when thinking about AI issues, as well as when to check in with their company’s legal team before going too far down the road on any particular AI implementation.   
Her goal is to leave MSIT students with one central truth. 

“I really want engineers and product leads to know lawyers are your friends,” she said. “They will save you time. They will reduce risk.” 

Beyond that, having a solid foundation in tech law will be a key differentiator for MSIT graduates looking to make an immediate and outsized impact in the business world, she said. IT professionals who understand legal issues will become valuable partners within innovative organizations.  

“Technology executives are so much more sophisticated nowadays about legal issues,” she said. “Even with governmental support of AI adoption and less regulation, there is increasing private litigation. If you're not thoughtful in working with your legal team and how you're using technology, you're setting the company up to be sued. We want to try to avoid that and have victories, not defeats, when it comes to using technology.”