ARPO-2: An expert system for legal advice on the breach of building contracts

Although Berman and Hafner [Berman 1989, pp. 928–938] presented the possibility to adapt the model of reasoning of development of an expert system for medical diagnosis to the reasoning of a judge when he/she sentences criminals does not resemble the reasoning found in the decisions of physicians, mathematicians or statisticians.When a lawyer reasons, he/she not only looks for the solution of a case; he/she simultaneously looks for the bases on which his/her reasoning can rest [Galindo 1992, pp. 363–367]. That is to say, he/she not only needs to find the solution but moreover he/she has to find the references (laws, jurisprudence and bibliography) that allow him/her to argue the solution.In many cases, computer solutions to these reasoning processes have been made in a separated way: the solution to the cases using expert systems, and the search of documentation using information retrieval systems.This paper presents the ARPO-2 prototype, a solution integrating the two aspects of legal reasoning: an expert system which is able to simultaneously find the solution to a problem and to give the necessary references so that the lawyer argues the solution. The subject on which the prototype solves problems is the breach of building contracts.In this paper, we describe the process of development of an expert system for solving, justification and documentation of breach of contracts, giving details on the way how the objects that intervene in the case were defined as well as on the reasoning followed.This paper was funded in part by DGICYT, Spanish Civil Law Computerization Project: PB870-632.     

An Achilles heel: denial of service attacks on Australian critical information infrastructures

Critical, or national, information infrastructure protection, referred to as either CIIP or NIIP, has been highlighted as a critical factor in overall national security by the United States, the United Kingdom, India and the European Community. As nations move inexorably towards so-called ‘digital economies’, critical infrastructure depends on information systems to process, transfer, store and exchange information through the Internet. Electronic attacks such as denial of service attacks on critical information infrastructures challenge the law and raise concerns. A myriad of issues potentially plague the protection of critical information infrastructures owing to the lack of legal regulation aimed at ensuring the protection of critical information infrastructures. This paper will highlight the legal concerns that relate to the denial of service attacks on critical information infrastructures and provide an introductory overview of the law as it relates to CIIP in Australia.     

On the Logical Foundations of Compound Predicate Formulae for Legal Knowledge Representation

In order to represent legal knowledge adequately, it is vital to create a formal device that can freely construct an individual concept directly from a predicate expression. For this purpose, a Compound Predicate Formula (CPF) is formulated for use in legal expert systems. In this paper, we willattempt to explain the nature of CPFs by rigorous logical foundation, i.e., establishing their syntax and semantics precisely through the use of appropriate examples. We note the advantages of our system over other such systems and discuss the significance of CPFs with regard to the formalization of legal reasonings using examples from the United Nations Convention for the International Sale of Goods.     

语言工具书法律术语释义辨析

汉语言文字既是语言学的研究对象,又是法律的规范领域(我国于2000年制定了《通用 语言文字法》)。语言工具书的质量应当引起语言学和法学的双重关注。以发行量极大、流行 范围极广的《现代汉语词典》为例,现行语言工具书对法律术语的释义存在着诸多常识性错误, 这些错误对读者构成法学知识和法律观念传递的障碍。本文以三组作为法律基本要素和法学 核心范畴的法律术语为例,对语言工具书的释义进行辨析,并提出修改建议。     

论计算机法律信息资源检索与应用

当前法学教育对学生驾驭法律信息资源能力培养在不同程度上缺失,学生使用的检索方法单一,弊端显明。随着现代信息技术的飞速发展,掌握利用计算机网络获取法律信息资源的方法已经成为提升学生法律职业能力的重要手段和途径。     

《烟草控制框架公约》的法律适用浅析

从国际条约的性质及在我国国内法上的适用为出发点,对《烟草控制框架公约》及其实施指南的法律地位和适用原则进行分析,试图为《公约》及其实施指南在中国的法律适用和具体实践提供法理依据.     

葡萄酒地理标志法律保护研究

分析了中国葡萄酒地理标志保护的现状及加强葡萄酒地理标志法律保护的意义,并对中国葡萄酒地理标志保护的法律法规以及部门规章的演变进行分析总结。指出应从建立葡萄酒地理标志保护专门法、专门的管理机构以及加强行业协会主体地位建设3个方面来完善葡萄酒地理标志法律保护。     

当前形势下既有住宅工程质量投诉处理工作的思考

通过整理近年来住宅工程质量投诉案例及数据,总结了当前投诉事件具有维权意识主动化、投诉渠道多样化、关注细节化、注重维权时效性等特点,分析了产生投诉的主要原因,结合现有的投诉处理模式,在机构改革、法制建设、法规宣传、管理创新等方面提出了投诉处理工作的一些设想,为探索当前形势下如何更好地处理投诉工作提供一定的参考。     

浅析企业法律顾问工作存在的问题及对策

通过对企业法律顾问制度发展历程的回顾,结合对当前企业法律顾问工作而临的一些问题,提出了加强企业法律顾问工作及防范经营风险的对策。