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In this paper, we present a method for introducing law students to the writing of legal documents. The method uses a machine-readable representation of the legal knowledge to support document assembly and to help the students to understand how the assembly is performed. The knowledge base consists of enacted legislation, document templates, and assembly instructions. We propose a system called LEDAS (LEgal Document Assembly System) for the interactive assembly of legal documents. It guides users through the assembly process and provides explanations of the interconnection between input data and claims stated in the document. The system acts as a platform for practicing drafting skills and has great potential as an education tool. It allows teachers to configure the system for the assembly of some particular type of legal document and then enables students to draft the documents by investigating which information is relevant for these documents and how the input data shape the final document. The generated legal document is complemented by a graphical representation of legal arguments expressed in the document. The system is based on existing legal standards to facilitate its introduction in the legal domain. Applicability of the system in the education of future lawyers is positively evaluated by the group of law students and their TA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a method for knowledge-based document assembly. A document assembly system is implemented as a proof of concept with service contracts as a sample document type. In comparison to related research, the method presented in this paper uses an explicit formulation of legal norms that prescribes the content and the form of service contracts to assist in the document assembly process. The assembly system also generates semantic documents, i.e., documents that preserve the meaning of the embedded data. As the primary contribution, this approach enables the automation of document processing operations and semantic interoperability of enterprise information systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we address the problem of automatically assembling shredded documents. We propose a two-step algorithmic framework. First, we digitize each fragment of a given document and extract shape- and content-based local features. Based on these multimodal features, we identify pairs of corresponding points on all pairs of fragments using an SVM classifier. Each pair is considered a point of attachment for aligning the respective fragments. In order to restore the layout of the document, we create a document graph in which nodes represent fragments and edges correspond to alignments. We assign weights to the edges by evaluating the alignments using a set of inter-fragment constraints which take into account shape- and content-based information. Finally, we use an iterative algorithm that chooses the edge having the highest weight during each iteration. However, since selecting edges corresponds to combining groups of fragments and thus provides new evidence, we reevaluate the edge weights after each iteration. We quantitatively evaluate the effectiveness of our approach by conducting experiments on a novel dataset. It comprises a total of 120 pages taken from two magazines which have been shredded and annotated manually. We thus provide the means for a quantitative evaluation of assembly algorithms which, to the best of our knowledge, has not been done before. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Document assembly software is a technology that is fundamental to disrupting law firms. This article uses the framework set out by Clayton Christensen in The Innovator's Dilemma and subsequent books to examine the range of business models that use document assembly software, from those that are sustaining in relation to law firms to those that are disruptive in relation to law firms. It looks at three barriers that slow down the space of disruption: a shortage of the right people, rules against unauthorised practice, and inadequate capitalisation of law firms. These barriers will be overcome on a piecemeal basis as disruptive forces advance and undercut the billable hour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper outlines ongoing research on logic-based tools for the analysis and representation of legal contracts, of the kind frequently encountered in large-scale engineering projects and complex, long-term trading agreements. We consider both contract formation and contract performance, in each case identifying the representational issues and the prospects for providing automated support tools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]