Golkin Foundation Gifted Penn Carey Law Funds
The foundation donated an undisclosed sum to support AI and technology legal education in Philadelphia.
Updated on Oct. 6, 2026 in Scholarships
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The Perry and Donna Golkin Family Foundation has provided a donation to the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School. The funding will support the school's Technology, Regulation, AI, and the Law initiative.
Why it matters
The gift enables the law school to adapt its legal education offerings to match the demands of rapidly evolving technology. It also establishes a new Dean's Innovation Fund to support research.
The school currently offers 13 courses focused on the intersection of law and technology for the 2026-27 academic year. Funding will be distributed through the Center for Technology, Innovation, and Competition.
The players
Perry and Donna Golkin Family Foundation
This is a private philanthropic organization that provides financial support to educational and research-oriented institutions.
University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School
Located in Philadelphia, this institution is one of the oldest law schools in the United States and serves as a major hub for legal research.
The details
The donation supports the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School as it expands its focus on artificial intelligence. Students are currently able to enroll in a newly launched Certificate of Study in AI and Law.
Timeline
The donation announcement was released on September 28, 2026.
The school is offering 13 law and technology courses during the 2026-27 academic year.
Engineering students become eligible for the AI and Law certificate in the 2027-28 academic year.
Culture Shift
This donation reflects a growing societal trend where elite educational institutions are rushing to formalize AI curricula to meet industry demands. It highlights how private philanthropy is increasingly directed toward bridging the gap between traditional legal studies and emerging tech fields.
Law students in Philadelphia can currently pursue the new Certificate of Study in AI and Law as part of their academic curriculum. Beginning in the 2027-28 academic year, the school will expand certificate eligibility to include engineering graduate students.
The takeaway
The donation underscores the necessity for modern legal professionals to develop technical proficiency alongside traditional legal knowledge. Students should monitor the school's course offerings to take advantage of these emerging certification pathways.
Further reading
For more information on legal education support, visit the Scholarships section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Former Penn President Liz Magill earned $4.46 million the year following her resignation - The Daily Pennsylvanian.
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