INTEGRATING GENERATIVE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE INTO LEGAL ENGLISH ESP EDUCATION IN UZBEKISTAN: ENHANCING PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATIVE COMPETENCE OF FUTURE LAWYERS

Аннотация

The rapid development of artificial intelligence technologies has significantly transformed modern higher education and professional training. In legal education, the growing demand for English-language legal communication skills coincides with the increasing use of generative artificial intelligence tools capable of supporting language learning and professional competence development. This study investigates the integration of generative artificial intelligence into Legal English courses taught within the framework of English for Specific Purposes (ESP) in Uzbekistan. The research aims to evaluate the effectiveness of AI-assisted learning in enhancing legal vocabulary acquisition, legal writing, legal reading comprehension, and professional communicative competence among law students. The study involved sixty undergraduate law students divided into control and experimental groups. The experimental group utilized generative AI tools, including ChatGPT, for legal text analysis, legal drafting, terminology practice, and case-based discussions. The findings demonstrate that AI-supported instruction contributes to significant improvements in students’ Legal English proficiency and professional communication skills. The study highlights pedagogical opportunities, identifies potential challenges, and proposes recommendations for integrating artificial intelligence into ESP-oriented legal education in Uzbekistan.