Student-built AI prototype 'Attune' explores new frontiers in legal tutoring
The final years of a law degree are an intense period of honing practical skills, with legal research being one of the most crucial. What if students had a dedicated AI partner to practise with? A recent student initiative has explored that very question, producing a compelling proof-of-concept for an AI-powered legal tutor.
The prototype is named Attune, and it was created by final-year UNE law student Mariah Lambley as part of a project in her LAW499 unit. The name itself is a clever nod to its purpose and origin. “I named the tool 'Attune' due to the meaning of the word, and because it also has UNE in it,” Mariah explains.
Simulating real-world legal research
The project challenged students to build a generative AI tool to assist with their studies. Mariah focused on creating a concept to help her peers bridge the gap between theory and practice. “It’s a legal research tool across all topics of law. It will generate a scenario for you to research to help final year law students in refining their research skills,” she says of her design.
The concept is simple but powerful. The AI agent presents a student with a unique legal problem, which they must then research. The student's response initiates a mentoring dialogue. “The tool is designed to assist students with providing them with a randomised Australian Legal Research issue/scenario. Where the student provides a response, the chatbot works to mentor them on answering this issue,” Mariah notes. The system was designed to confirm correct legal reasoning and offer gentle prompts if a student's research goes astray, all without simply providing the answers.
A gateway to applied AI
For Mariah, the project was also a gateway into the world of applied AI. “Gen AI tools are on the rise in workplaces and our university. When I studied LAW499 last trimester (T1 2025), this was the first time that I learnt about Gen AI and started to explore the tools available. Throughout the unit, I found it a useful tool for brainstorming.”
This hands-on experience building a prototype has given Mariah valuable insights into the future potential of such tools in education. She sees a clear opportunity for carefully designed AI agents to be integrated into the university’s digital learning environment.
“There is an integration ability to embed AI chatbots into Moodle,” she says. “I believe an AI Chatbot would be of greatest benefit in a research or advocacy space, to better expand student’s practical skills within the field.”
While Attune remains a prototype, Mariah’s work is a powerful demonstration of student-led innovation. It provides a tangible glimpse into how generative AI can be harnessed to create specialised tools that enrich the student learning experience at UNE.