Mark Williams works at the intersection of legal technology education and innovation. As a Professor of the Practice and co-founder of the Vanderbilt AI Law Lab VAILL) alongside Cat Moon, his work addresses the relationship between artificial intelligence, legal services, and access to justice.

Throughout his career, Williams has worked to connect traditional legal education with emerging technologies. His experience in legal academia spans a decade, including positions at both Vanderbilt and Cornell, providing him with perspective on how technology continues to change legal practice.

As founding co-director of VAILL, Williams has helped shape this interdisciplinary initiative into a hub for AI research and education. As a certified AI Governance Professional through the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP), Williams applies his knowledge of AI implementation and governance frameworks across his various roles. Currently, Williams is developing a new course on "AI Governance, Ethics and Compliance" scheduled for Fall 2025, further expanding the curriculum addressing responsible AI implementation in legal contexts.

Williams developed one of the first law school courses focused on generative AI in legal practice. The "AI in Legal Practice" course examines applications and limitations of AI in legal research, document drafting, litigation support, and ethical considerations. He also created the Coursera online course "Generative AI for Legal Services Primer," which was the first of its kind on this topic, extending these educational opportunities to practicing legal professionals globally.

Williams' vision for legal education emphasizes expanding AI and governance-related curriculum through interdisciplinary collaboration. He works to bridge technical knowledge gaps by developing programs that connect law students with computer science and data science disciplines. His approach balances theoretical frameworks with practical applications, preparing legal professionals to actively engage with AI tools rather than being passive consumers.