Here's something I didn't expect to be writing: law schools are putting Dungeons & Dragons on the syllabus as actual, credited coursework for future lawyers. (Thanks John Reed for the tip!)

At the University of Iowa College of Law, Professor Mihailis Diamantis did something wild this past summer. He taught Foundations of Corporate Law through D&D.

Students created characters—complete with backstories, professions (bee keeper, helicopter pilot, oil rig worker), and personality traits that would affect their business decisions throughout the course.

Students broke into groups of six and took on the roles you'd find in any real company: shareholders, directors, CEOs.

At the start of class, they'd roll to see how their company performed that week.

Then they'd face whatever scenario Diamantis threw at them.

Corporate disputes. Power struggles. All the complicated dynamics that show up when people have to balance competing interests.

One student, Emilia Frigo, said the format helped her understand material she normally would have struggled with. She got to see corporate law play out through her character, Bianca Businessa (fantastic name, by the way). Instead of trying to memorize abstract concepts, she experienced what it actually feels like to navigate those situations.

The course had a waitlist twice the size of available spots. It's running again next August.

actually See what it's all about

Join Laura for a beginner-friendly game of Granny D&D, where you'll play a sleuthing granny in the town of Brindlewood Bay. If you liked Murder, She Wrote, you'll love this. Zero experience in role playing games necessary.

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Santa Clara Joins the Campaign

Meanwhile, over at Santa Clara Law, they're launching "D&D and the Law" in spring 2026. This one's taught by Chris Ridder, an intellectual property lawyer and longtime D&D player, with professional dungeon masters running actual quests.

The quests are designed to simulate real lawyer tasks. Students practice assembling diverse teams. They work on problem-solving under pressure. They learn to interpret rules and persuade an adjudicator (the dungeon master) that their interpretation is the right one.

Sound familiar? That's literally what lawyers do in court.

Ridder puts it well: "Great lawyers—and great D&D players—are storytellers who think on their feet, leverage complex rules, and succeed as a team."

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Games aren't separate from "real work." They're practice grounds for the exact skills professionals need. The difference is that in a game, the stakes are lower and the feedback is immediate.

These law professors get it. They're using D&D to teach:

  • Strategic thinking
  • Persuasive communication
  • Team collaboration
  • Creative problem-solving
  • How to think on your feet
  • Understanding that rules are subject to interpretation

Those aren't game skills. Those are life skills that determine whether someone becomes a good lawyer or a great one.

And if law can embrace this? Any industry can.

So the next time someone asks if playing D&D can really help with professional development, you can point them to Iowa and Santa Clara. Because even future lawyers need to learn how to roll for initiative.

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At Once Upon a Roll, we help individuals and teams sharpen confidence, communication, and problem-solving skills using D&D. Whether you need a 2-hour spark or a full-day transformation, we tailor every adventure to your goals. Email us to learn more: hello@onceuponaroll.com
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