An analysis into the ability of expert systems to aid in legal reasoning

In an attempt to reduce some of the pressure in a overburdened legal system, an investigation into the feasibility of developing an expert system to aid in the field of business formation was performed. An expert system (Business Creation Advisor) was developed as a result of this research, and subsequently tested for accuracy, user-friendliness, and speed. Validation tests were conducted by experts (attorneys) in business formation law, and Business Creation Advisor was updated to meet all suggestions. It was then determined that not only could the client run Business Creation Advisor himself, saving the lawyer over 1/3 of the time needed for a consultation, but the expert system could also act as a training tool for aspiring lawyers and paralegals. However, some future improvements were deemed necessary, such as the inclusion of a layman's dictionary of the legal terms used, and the addition of an option that will allow the user to be issued a printout of any forms relating to the advice rendered.<
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