Forget what you have been taught and acquire new knowledge.
Nothing remains constant in our lives and the world around us, with changes happening rapidly and profoundly. We are currently experiencing a new industrial revolution that is distinct from the initial mechanical one, as it involves mental and organizational shifts. Artificial intelligence now affects our cognitive processes similarly to how machines once impacted our physical capabilities. This ongoing transformation is influencing various social aspects of humanity, including the legal system.
We are entering a new phase where adapting is crucial. Those who fail to change risk being left behind in today’s world of vast data and communication.
Transforming data into information in the legal field and presenting it effectively for legal professionals is the focus of this article, exploring the concepts of Jurimetry and Visual Law. These innovative tools, when combined, have the potential to elevate legal practice to a higher standard.
Jurimetry is a term that is becoming more familiar to legal professionals, yet its origins and implementation may still be unclear to some. The concept gained traction in Brazil around 2015 and has since evolved, with practitioners seeking to incorporate it into their work to enhance legal efficiency. This evolution has led to a transformation of certain concepts as jurimetry continues to be further developed in the country, highlighting the dynamic relationship between practice and theory in this emerging field.
It is essential to define Jurimetry simply and address any recent misconceptions. Referring to Bryan A. Garner’s “Dictionary of modern legal practices,” Jurimetry can be described as the use of quantitative techniques, particularly probability and statistics, in the field of law.
In the original definition of Jurimetry and in all subsequent articles and publications on the subject since it was first mentioned in 1949 by American jurist Lee Loevinger, there is no direct link between Jurimetry and data collected by court robots. The misconception that Jurimetry is solely about external data, rather than the internal legal database of a law office or department, is prevalent in Brazil. Jurimetry actually involves applying statistics to law, whether the data comes from scraping or organizing processes in Excel. The key is combining legal expertise with mathematical elements, particularly statistics.
Jurimetry and Visual Law are connected, emphasizing the importance of innovation and efficiency in shaping the future of the legal profession, alongside the valuable role of demystifying Jurimetry as a supportive tool.
It is crucial to understand this because it simplifies everything and allows you to utilize key management indicators in your legal practice. While the concept of “big data” is appealing for accessing vast legal information, it is complex and expensive. Instead, consider focusing on your own data, as you already handle significant legal data daily. Start by auditing, cleaning, and enhancing your database to leverage it effectively. By applying jurimetry, you can turn data into valuable insights to enhance your management practices and achieve better outcomes. This process can be referred to as “juridical data science,” marking the beginning of your journey towards becoming a sought-after “legal data scientist.”
The common question that arises is where to start in the past, the only option was a long process involving searching for data science courses, spending countless hours creating correlations between variables, learning about data storytelling, and creating dashboards. This was akin to pursuing a postgraduate degree without proper guidance, making it nearly impossible or extremely challenging. However, the landscape is evolving now, with professionals from various backgrounds coming together to explore opportunities for analyzing legal variables and creating innovative solutions. This collaborative effort has led to the development of the first BI Intelligence system in partnership with Thomson Reuters, aiming to make legal data science accessible to all.
This article is divided into two parts and introduces the concept of Jurimetry, which can help you transform data into information for your database. It suggests changing the way you present results to impress and engage customers with Visual Law.
Rui Caminha Barbosa
Attorney, digital business owner, University of São Paulo graduate, FGV-SP master’s degree holder, Juristec+ founder and CEO, Villa – Visual Law Studio co-founder and director, Visual Law professor, global presenter, with over 15 years of experience in legal innovation and leading the way in technology and solutions for jurimetry, legal data science, AI in law, analytics, and Visual Law.
Explore further information on Visual Law to enhance your understanding of this innovative legal method.