Dean Perlman Returns to National Jurist's "Most Influential" List

For second time, dean recognized for work reshaping how law is taught and practiced
Image of National Jurist article on a mobile phone
Inset: Dean Andrew Perlman

Suffolk University Law School Dean Andrew Perlman has been named to National Jurist's 2026 list of the "25 Most Influential People in Legal Education," marking his second consecutive appearance on the publication's ranking of leaders shaping the field.

National Jurist described Perlman as "a driving force in modernizing legal education" and "a central figure in helping legal education and the profession adapt to rapid technological change." 

He has positioned Suffolk Law as "a national leader in legal technology and innovation," the publication said, highlighting Perlman's founding of the school's legal innovation and technology hub in 2013—well before legal technology had become a standard part of legal education. 

Suffolk Law later launched the nation's first Legal Innovation and Technology concentration and the first STEM-designated LL.M. in the field. The concentration, led by Professor Dyane O’Leary, was named a top ten innovator by Bloomberg Law in 2023.

National Jurist also noted Perlman's early scholarship on generative AI, citing his 2022 paper "The Implications of ChatGPT for Legal Services and Society," which it said "helped spark global discussion about generative AI and the law."

The work behind the recognition

The honor reflects more than a decade of institution-building at Suffolk Law—work Perlman credits to his colleagues and students. One critical piece of that effort is the Legal Innovation and Technology (LIT) Lab, an experiential research and development lab run by David Colarusso and Quinten Steenhuis. Lab students build technologies used by tens of thousands of people nationwide. Last year, more than 33,000 litigants used student-built online tools—TurboTax-style guided interviews that generate court-ready forms—to navigate legal emergencies like filing restraining orders and tenants' emergencies. Students now work directly with court administrators and legal aid organizations in ten states. The Lab's work has garnered $2.6 million in grants and earned national media attention and awards for innovations that demonstrate leadership in the legal technology space.

Graduates of Suffolk’s LIT programs include a legal tech founder who won venture capital on Shark Tank, an innovation consultant at the National Center for State Courts, and the director of a major law firm's innovation lab.

New initiative: The AAA Online Dispute Resolution Innovation Clinic

Among the initiatives cited by National Jurist is Suffolk Law’s American Arbitration Association Online Dispute Resolution Innovation Clinic. The clinic targets a stubborn problem: Massachusetts Probate and Family Court sees more than 100,000 filings annually, with roughly 75 percent involving at least one self-represented party. Many struggle with paperwork and procedures, leading to rejected filings, repeat court visits, and emotional stress.

Under the direction of former Chief Justice of the Massachusetts Probate and Family Court John D. Casey, JD '82, students are building AI-powered digital tools designed to make low-contest divorces more accessible and efficient. 

This winter, students will begin representing real clients using the tools they've built. The goal is a tested, replicable workflow that helps litigants move more quickly into the next chapter of their lives.

The nomination process

National Jurist's editors received nominations from law schools around the country, after which deans voted on the nominees. The publication released its "Most Influential People in Legal Education" list on January 7, 2026.