Hackathon finalists leverage AI and machine learning to solve problems in the legal sector
Here’s a look at some of the Global Legal Hackathon solutions utilizing this tech
The final round of the Global Legal Hackathon is almost upon us. It happens live on stage before an international panel of judges in NYC on Saturday, April 21. Among the 14 teams of tech, law, and business professionals, whose working prototypes of legal technology solutions have survived the tough competition so far, several have incorporated artificial intelligence and machine learning into their unique legal solutions. Let’s take a look at some of these.
ANIKA of Melbourne, Australia is one those finalists using AI technology to improve the practice of law. Their tool is designed to both improve access to justice and provide practical legal training to law students. Funded primarily by universities, ANIKA intends to connect clients seeking legal advice with law students whose skills will be augmented by AI tools and by supervising human lawyers. In order for the students to offer free quality legal advice, universities will pay fees into the program per student enrolled in an ANIKA work integrated learning subject.
Decoding Law of Hong Kong is a machine-learning powered browser extension that helps people read and understand proposed legislation. It identifies keywords contained in a user’s natural language query to direct them to relevant sections of a bill. The tool explains defined terms for easier navigation within the document, and then breaks down complex, technical legislative terminology into simpler language. This technology solution renders the legislative process more accessible and makes specific legislative proposals more useful, especially to affected people whose interests are underrepresented by lawyers, lobbyists and advocacy groups.
Juridico of Montreal, Canada, is a collaborative web platform that offers customized assistance to the public by referring people to relevant legal resources. Access to the correct forms and the right legal expertise can go a long way to improving access to justice. Much like patients doing a bit of their own medical research before seeing their primary care physician or choosing a specialist, potential clients in need of legal services can use Juridico as an introductory legal orientation tool, so they can ask important questions and participate in navigating the judicial process on their own behalf. As Juridico’s creators explain, “Thanks to expert designed questions, big data, and automated natural language processing, our platform provides uniquely adapted resources to accompany our users throughout their judicial experience.”
Regal LT of Singapore provides AI support to businesses and law firms to make it easier to navigate multiple complex and lengthy documents. This AI tool automatically scans and tags documents and maps inter-document references. It performs like a smart, efficient law clerk, who can work at all hours without sleep, allowing real lawyers more time for strategizing and interacting with clients.
Sondier.ai of Berlin, Germany is a consensus finding solution that facilitates new and innovative methods of conflict resolution. It could prove to be a big help to lawyers in settlement negotiations and parties in arbitration over any legal dispute.
Two of the GLH Round One winners were teams from South America that leverage AI and machine learning technology. Atticus from Buenos Aires, Argentina, is a machine learning system that creates, manages, administers and reviews contracts, combined with a marketplace that allows their purchase and sale. One team in Brazil created Appriori, which provides a fast and accurate way to summarize and analyze contracts during a due diligence process, applying AI natural language processes to Brazilian Portugese.
Several other teams from around the world also incorporated machine learning in interesting ways. Trademark Pro out of Toronto, Canada pre-scans trademarks using a machine learning algorithm to assist intellectual property lawyers. In an effort to solve a similar issue, Team Far-Go-Go out of China employs both blockchain technology and AI to provide one-stop images for copyright protection for Chinese users. Additionally, a team out of Stockholm, Sweden, created LawLess, touted as an innovative AI-powered language-agnostic app for fast and reliable legal advice.
Many of these technology solutions reach beyond big data analytics to make valuable suggestions and predictions that augment human intelligence for broader access to legal information, and efficiency and effectiveness gains for the practice and business of law.
To see the finalists present their AI solutions and other legal tech tools, join the Global Legal Hackathon community on April 21 in New York at the GLH Gala. And stay tuned for more information about how GLH teams are working to change the business of law for the better.
