Legal Expert Systems Design: The Blackboard Model

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Raghupathi, Wullianallur^a | Schkade, Lawrence L.^b

Affiliations: [a] Department of Accounting and Management Information Systems, California State University, Chico, CA 95929-0011, USA; Phone: (916) 898-6463 | [b] Department of Information Systems and Management Sciences, The University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019, USA; Phone: (817) 273-3707

Abstract: Expert systems applications development in legal decision making has traditionally focused on the use of rule-based models. None of the systems has yet become a fully functional prototype or commercially viable. The attempts to design legal decision making systems without examining the intrinsic complex nature of the legal process has resulted in limited operational success. This paper discusses legal decision making, legal function and the differences between rule-based blackboard models. It is recommended that the blackboard model be used in the design of legal decision making systems while the rule-based will continue to be appropriate for the legal function applications. The use of more sophisticated models such as the blackboard will enable the scaling up of expert systems technology to more encompassing domains.

Keywords: Legal expert system, blackboard model, rule-based model, legal decision making, legal function, legal expert system design

DOI: 10.3233/HSM-1993-12207

Journal: Human Systems Management, vol. 12, no. 2, pp. 145-158, 1993