Are Computational Methods Revolutionising Legal Research?

Abstract: Computational methods are offering new ways to analyze legal texts, predict case outcomes, and uncover patterns in judicial behavior. In his presentation Johan Lindholm will explores how tools such as natural language processing, machine learning, and network analysis are being used to study law and legal institutions, highlighting both their potential and their limitations. By examining real-world applications and ongoing developments, we will discuss whether these methods truly represent a paradigm shift in legal research or if they remain complementary to traditional doctrinal approaches.

Bio: Johan Lindholm is a Professor of Law at Umeå University. He has being using and developing a variety of computational methods for studying law and courts for more than 13 years. He is, among other things, the Editor-in-Chief for the European Journal of Empirical Legal Studies and co-chair of the Computational Legal Methods working group of the European Society for Empirical Legal Studies.

Registration: a link will be posted here two weeks before the seminar.