Kenneth A. Lambert

Legal theory and case-based reasoners: the importance of context and the process of focusing

It is widely urged that legal theory is important to the development of intelligent computer systems in law [Gardner 1987 and Susskind 1987]. Yet why this is so, and particularly where it baa led researchers in AI and law, is not as obvious as one might assume. In this paper, we report briefly on our work on OPINE (Office Practice I.Nquiry Expert) a generic case-based reasoner for use in legal domains. We concentrate on how our reaction to the treatment of legal theory in the AI and law literature has affected our approach.

LESTER: using paradigm cases in a Quasi-Precedential legal domain

We are developing LESTER (Legal Expert System for Termination of Employment Review), a case-based reasoning program to advise in the area of unjust discharge from employment under collective bargaining agreements. LESTER uses paradigm cases to reason in a legal domain that is not governed by a strong concept of precedent. This paper describes the domain and gives an overview of the current version of the program.

A language-only course in LISP with PC scheme

This paper describes a course in LISP that introduces students to conventional software engineering techniques, contemporary programming paradigms, and an artificial intelligence application.