Software tools for the visualization of definition networks in legal contracts

Abstract

This paper describes the development of prototype software-based tools for visualizing definitions within legal contracts. The tools demonstrate visualization techniques for enhancing the readability and comprehension of definitions and their associated characteristics. This contributes to more accurate and efficient drafting or reading of contracts through the exploration of the meaning and use of definitions including via word clouds, multilayer navigation, adjacency matrix and graph tree representations.

Transforming Legal Documents for Visualization and Analysis

“…Related work includes: encouraging debate on public issues using computer-supported visualization of argument maps [17]; using argument visualization to enhance participation in the legislation process [15]; United States Code representation and analysis using several hierarchical networks [3]; using diagrams to help describe laws to improve public access [2]; improve business contracts clarity and usability [8,9]; using parallel word clouds to analyse trends in US court decisions [4]; more examples and approaches available in [5,6].…”