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Applying Big Data to the Practice of Law

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rlby Angela Guess

Bernard Marr recently wrote in Forbes, “The legal system generates a huge and ever-increasing amount of data. Each new case brought to court (and there are 350,000 in the US alone each year) increases the body of knowledge that a lawyer has to get to grips with to do their job. Judicial ruling, precedents and interpretations of legislature all create more data and amongst it all – within witness statement, court logs and judge’s summaries – will be hidden facts and insights that could help win legal arguments. So it is surprising that until recently there has been little innovation in the way that the legal profession uses Big Data. But some believe that is all about to change with the arrival of a new breed of data savvy lawyers and legal professionals.”

Marr continues, “Currently, the world of legal data-driven research is ruled by two entities – LexisNexis and Westlaw. These giants hold databases containing huge amounts of case details and are often the default starting point for legal researchers. However they mainly function as search engines and offer little in the way of advanced analytical tools. One challenger which is attempting to apply more sophisticated technology to this vast and arcane body of knowledge is Ravel Law. Established in 2012 by two lawyers with backgrounds in analytics, they provide services designed to help legal professionals draw insights and connections using advanced analytical algorithms.”

Read more here.

photo credit: Ravel Law

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