This innovative book proposes new theories on how the legal system can be made more comprehensible, usable and empowering for people through the use of design principles. Utilising key case studies and providing real-world examples of legal innovation, the book moves beyond discussion to action. It offers a rich set of examples, demonstrating how various design methods, including information, service, product and policy design, can be leveraged within research and practice.

Legal design has been with us for over a decade. Its core idea, i.e. to use design methods to make the world of law accessible to all, has been widely embraced by academics, researchers, and professionals. Over time, the field has grown, expanding its initial problem-solving approach to other dimensions of design, such as speculative design, design fiction, proactive law, and disciplines like cognitive science and philosophy. The book presents a state-of-the-art reflection on legal design evolution and applications. It features twelve insightful contributions discussed during the 2023 'Legal Design Roundtable' on 'Design(s) for Law', organised within the Erasmus+ Jean Monnet clinic on 'EU Digital Rights, Law, and Design'. These perspectives from academics and professionals add important nuances to the literature, either presenting new approaches, applying consolidated practices to new contexts and areas, or showcasing actual and potential applications. Ideal for academics, legal professionals, and students, this book is a must-read for anyone interested in new critical approaches to the law and in the creative construction of fairer and more human-friendly legal systems.

This cutting-edge volume offers a theoretical and applied introduction to the emerging legal technology and informatics industry.

“Humanization and the Law” combines two current and complementary trends in the business-to-business (B2B) market of the legal industry: digitalization and humanization. On the one hand, digital transformation in corporate legal departments and law firms continues to advance. Contract management, e-discovery, due diligence, legal operations, and forensic data analysis are just a few examples of task areas where the use of intelligent software solutions minimizes legal risks and increases compliance, enables efficiency gains and cost reductions through automation, and allows faster and more agile responses to changing market demands and client expectations. On the other hand, the increasing number of failed digitalization projects shows that technology alone is not enough to successfully transform legal departments and law firms. Software solutions must be integrated into existing work processes, be easy to use, and provide real benefits in order to be accepted by employees. People and their ability to make decisions and lead others remain the focus in an increasingly digitalized legal industry. More than 20 authors provide insights into why human aspects matter for business, what organizations can do to increase the mental well-being and motivation of their employees, and how to prevail in the upcoming war for talent in the legal industry. “The legal industry has been largely dismissive of “soft skills” and “humanizing law.” One of the paradoxes of our time is that the ascendency of automation, artificial intelligence, blockchain, Big Data, and other technological platforms has elevated, not diminished, the importance of humanity. It is not only what distinguishes us from machines but it also enables us to apply our humanity to machines. The legal function will play an important role in this process but must first take a hard look at itself.” (Mark A. Cohen, in “Foreword”)

Influential writers on international law and international relations explore the making, interpretation and enforcement of international law.

An exploration of the legal features compatibility with the theories of social-ecological resilience and their applicability for effective governance frameworks.

Three years ago, the first Liquid Legal book compelled the legal profession to reassess its identity and to aspire to become a strategic partner for corporate executives as well as for clients. It also led to the foundation of the Liquid Legal Institute (LLI) – an association that sparks innovation and drives collaboration in the legal industry. This second Liquid Legal book builds on the LLI’s progress and on the lessons learned by a legal community that has moved beyond focusing purely on LegalTech. It not only presents an outlook on how legal professionals will operate in the future, but also allows readers to develop a genuine understanding of the value of digitalization, standardization and new methodologies. Further, the book outlines a Common Legal Platform (CLP) and makes it the common point of departure for every author, offering inspiring insights from a wide range of forward-thinking experts who are all invested in driving new thinking within the legal ecosystem. The book also features “Liquid Legal Waves,” which provide links between the various articles, connecting concrete ideas, practical solutions and specific topics and putting them into perspective, and so creating a true network of ideas for readers. A must read, this book is vibrant proof of the power of sharing, collaboration and coopetition, helping the legal profession to shape its digital future and revitalize its relevance while retaining a focus on the human lawyer.

This book presents the latest findings relating to behavioral economics and the digital tools applied to contract management. There has been a decisive change in the role of contracts in the past decade, with contracts being transformed from purely legal necessities designed to protect against worst-case scenarios into tools for optimizing ongoing and mutually profitable business relationships with customers. There is an increasing emphasis on tight contracts, where time-risk and additional costs are passed on to the prime contractor, who may suffer heavy penalties in the event of non-performance. Contracts shape the behavior of the parties involved and as such have a major impact on project success. The contract manager’s goals are to protect the interests of the company and its shareholders by minimizing the company’s financial and contractual liabilities and to maximize its profitability while ensuring end-user satisfaction. The contract is usually written before the design is fully developed, and there is often a mismatch between contractual specifications and what the customer actually wants. Good contract management entails preserving the rights of the contractor by ensuring all parties respect their contractual obligations; providing advice to the project managers and engineering team; preparing profitable amendments to contracts or change requests; maintaining good record-keeping in the event that claims arise; filing notices when necessary; and guiding the project to a profitable conclusion. Like the ancient Chinese game of Go, moves made early in the game (notification of events) can shape the nature of a potential conflict one hundred moves later (arbitration threat). Contract management can also smooth the relationship between partners, allowing well-balanced “don’t-trade-a-dollar-for-a-penny” contracts to be managed through an established process rather than as sporadic events (we cannot claim to be in control of our business if we are not in control of the contracts on which it depends). Managing a contract with a mix of incomplete manuals, fragmented information, and poor planning can drive companies to “reinvent the wheel.” Contract management promotes a three-phase sequence to streamline information flows across the contract lifecycle, from the bid phase to performance, project closeout, and final payments.

There is a broad consensus amongst law firms and in-house legal departments that next generation “Legal Tech” – particularly in the form of Blockchain-based technologies and Smart Contracts – will have a profound impact on the future operations of all legal service providers. Legal Tech startups are already revolutionizing the legal industry by increasing the speed and efficiency of traditional legal services or replacing them altogether with new technologies. This on-going process of disruption within the legal profession offers significant opportunities for all business. However, it also poses a number of challenges for practitioners, trade associations, technology vendors, and regulators who often struggle to keep up with the technologies, resulting in a widening regulatory “gap.” Many uncertainties remain regarding the scope, direction, and effects of these new technologies and their integration with existing practices and legacy systems. Adding to the challenges is the growing need for easy-to-use contracting solutions, on the one hand, and for protecting the users of such solutions, on the other. To respond to the challenges and to provide better legal communications, systems, and services Legal Tech scholars and practitioners have found allies in the emerging field of Legal Design. This collection brings together leading scholars and practitioners working on these issues from diverse jurisdictions. The aim is to introduce Blockchain and Smart Contract technologies, and to examine their on-going impact on the legal profession, business and regulators.

Letters Of The Law explores the complex world of legal systems and their impact on modern society, addressing the provocative question: Why do we need lawyers to interpret laws that are supposed to govern us all? This comprehensive book examines the origins of laws across different cultures, their practical application in contemporary society, and the increasing reliance on legal professionals to navigate complex legal systems. The book traces the historical development of legal frameworks from ancient civilizations to modern nation-states, highlighting how cultural, religious, and political factors have shaped diverse legal traditions worldwide. It argues that the growing complexity of legal systems has created a disconnect between the law and those it governs, often at the expense of true justice and societal well-being. Through case studies, interviews, and empirical evidence, the book illustrates how legal systems influence social behavior, shape political institutions, and affect individual decision-making processes. What sets Letters Of The Law apart is its accessible approach to a typically dense subject, using everyday language and relatable examples to explain complex legal concepts. The book progresses from introducing the concept of law and its societal role to examining case studies from various countries, and finally analyzing the implications of current legal practices and proposing potential reforms. This interdisciplinary exploration connects legal studies with sociology, political science, and psychology, making it valuable for students, engaged citizens, and anyone seeking a clearer understanding of their rights and responsibilities under the law.