Innovation in Jurisprudence: How Technology is Changing the Legal Field
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Jurisprudence has always been considered a conservative field, but modern technology is gradually changing it. From artificial intelligence to blockchain, the latest solutions simplify legal processes, make them more accessible and efficient. Let's consider what innovations are already working and what awaits us in the future.
1. Artificial intelligence and automation of legal processes
AI systems analyze thousands of pages of legal documents in seconds, helping lawyers reduce the time it takes to research cases. For example, artificial intelligence is used to:
- automatic analysis of contracts, identification of risks and proposal of changes,
- predicting court decisions based on the analysis of previous cases,
- automated preparation of documents, which greatly simplifies the work of lawyers.
The solutions are quite simple and effective to use, but there are risks of leakage of confidential information and personal data.
2. Blockchain and smart contracts
Blockchain technology ensures transparency and protection of legal agreements. Smart contracts are programs that automatically execute contract terms without intermediaries. They are useful in real estate, finance, supplies, and even in marriage contracts.
| 1 | Real estate: Sale of apartments without intermediaries |
In 2017, TechCrunch reported on the first sale of an apartment via blockchain in Kyiv. American investor Michael Arrington purchased real estate using a smart contract on the Propy platform. The smart contract automatically performed the transfer of ownership rights after making a cryptocurrency payment. In fact, a cryptocurrency exchange contract was concluded for real estate ownership, and real estate ownership is one way or another subject to registration in the register of property rights, so such contracts have not yet become widespread |
| 2 | Finance: Decentralized Loans (DeFi) | Aave and Compound are popular DeFi platforms where users can borrow and lend without banks. Smart contracts automatically determine the interest rate and lock the collateral (e.g. Ethereum) until the loan is fully repaid. |
| 3 | Supply chain: Tracking goods | IBM and Maersk have launched the TradeLens platform, which uses blockchain to monitor international cargo shipments. Smart contracts automate document approval, customs clearance and product tracking, reducing the risk of fraud. |
| 4 | Marriage Contracts: Division of Assets in the Event of Divorce | In the US, the Ethereum startup Love has developed smart contracts for marriage agreements. A couple can record financial arrangements before marriage, and in the event of a divorce, assets are automatically divided according to prescribed terms without the involvement of a court. |
| 5 | Insurance: Payments without delays | In 2018, AXA launched a smart contract for flight insurance (Fizzy). If the flight is delayed for more than a certain time, the insurance is paid automatically without the need to apply. |
3. Document designer and virtual storage
Modern online services allow you to quickly create legal documents with the help of a designer . This greatly simplifies the process of drawing up contracts and other documents, because the user simply enters the necessary data, and the system automatically generates a ready-made file in accordance with legal regulations.
| Document designer | ||
| 1 | Instadoc (Ukraine) | The user can quickly create a contract by filling in the fields in the constructor, for example, a contract for the provision of services or a lease. The system automatically forms the document in accordance with legal regulations, and then it can be signed online. |
| 2 | Rocket Lawyer (USA, international market) | The platform allows users to fill out legal templates (such as NDAs, contracts, powers of attorney) and the system automatically generates a ready document for printing or electronic signature. |
| 3 | LegalZoom (USA) | Allows entrepreneurs to quickly create documents for business registration, agreements between partners, employment contracts, etc. |
| Virtual repositories of legal documents | ||
| 1 | Instadoc | The service allows users to save drafts and signed documents in their personal account, as well as view the history of file usage. |
| 2 | DocuSign (US, international market) | Allows not only to sign documents online, but also to store them in a secure digital storage with the possibility of quick access. |
| 3 | PandaDoc (USA) | In addition to creating contracts, the service provides a centralized repository for all the company's legal documents, which is especially convenient for large teams. |
Why is this important?
Thanks to such services:
✅ The user can quickly complete any legal agreement without a lawyer.
✅ All documents are stored in a safe place and are available at any time.
✅ The risks of loss or forgery of important contracts are minimized.
4. Electronic document flow and digital signature
Modern electronic document management systems allow you to instantly sign and transfer documents online, which significantly reduces bureaucracy. For example, on the Instadoc platform, you can quickly issue legally significant documents and ensure that they are signed in accordance with the requirements of the law.
| 1 | eIDAS (EU) | regulation that regulates electronic signature and digital document flow between EU countries. In Germany, France and Spain, qualified electronic signatures are actively used to conclude contracts without physical presence. |
| 2 | X-Road (Estonia) | a national digital identification system that allows citizens and businesses to securely exchange documents online. |
| 3 | DocuSign, Adobe Sign (USA) | the leaders of the electronic signature market, which are used by both businesses and government entities (for example, the IRS tax service). |
| 4 | Federal Document Management (USA) | US government agencies are gradually moving to a paperless work format, introducing electronic signatures and cloud services. |
| 5 | SARS eFiling (South Africa) | a platform for electronic submission of tax returns and legal documents |
| 6 | eCitizen (Kenya) | online service for obtaining state documents, licenses and signing contracts. |
| 7 | GovTech (Nigeria) | a government project that allows digital document flow between business and government structures. |
| 8 | Action. Signature | digital signature in the Diya application, which allows Ukrainians to sign documents online. |
| 9 | On time, InstaDoc, Paperless, M.E.Doc (Ukraine) | popular electronic document management services that allow companies to work without paper documents. |
| 10 | Document circulation in the public sector (Ukraine) | the government is actively implementing paperless document circulation through the Unified System of Electronic Interaction of State Bodies (Trembita). |
5. Legal chatbots, online consultations
Automated assistants can provide initial consultations, assist with document creation, and even respond to customer inquiries 24/7. This is a significant time saver for both law firms and clients.
| 1 | Initial consultations: DoNotPay (USA) | DoNotPay is a chatbot that helps users dispute parking fines, file complaints with companies and even file lawsuits. It uses artificial intelligence to analyze the situation and provide recommendations on how to proceed. |
| 2 | Automation of document creation: Instadoc (Ukraine) | Instadoc allows customers to choose and adapt legal document templates to suit their needs. This significantly reduces the time for the preparation of contracts, agreements and other legal documents without the involvement of a lawyer. |
| 3 | Business legal support: ROSS Intelligence (USA) | This platform uses AI to analyze court decisions and find relevant precedents. Lawyers can quickly find the necessary arguments for a case, which saves hours of research. |
| 4 | Automated responses to client inquiries: Chatbots in law firms | Many law firms integrate AI bots into their sites that can answer basic customer questions (for example, "How much does a consultation cost?" or "How do I file a lawsuit?"). For example, the British company Clifford Chance uses a bot to provide quick advice on financial law. |
| 5 | Automated contract checks: LawGeex (Israel) | This platform analyzes legal contracts and verifies their compliance with standards. It can automatically find potentially risky terms in contracts, which greatly simplifies the work of legal departments of large companies. |
6. Virtual courts and online mediation
Remote dispute resolution is gaining popularity. Many countries already have online courts that allow parties to submit documents and participate in hearings without physical presence. This speeds up the justice process and reduces costs.
| 1 | Online court in China: Internet courts (Hangzhou Internet Court) | In 2017, China opened the first internet court in the city of Hangzhou, which hears cases related to e-commerce, copyright and online finance. Meetings are held entirely online via video link, and documents are submitted in digital format. |
| 2 | Distance justice in Canada: British Columbia Civil Resolution Tribunal (CRT) | The province of British Columbia has a CRT , which resolves residential rental, consumer rights and small claims disputes entirely online. Plaintiffs and defendants can file statements, submit evidence, and receive judgments without visiting the court in person. |
| 3 | Online courts in Ukraine: "Electronic court" | In Ukraine, the "Electronic Court" system works, which allows you to file lawsuits, receive court decisions and communicate with judges remotely. This greatly simplifies access to justice, especially for those who are in another city or country. |
| 4 | European Online Arbitration: Modria (US, EU application) | Modria is a platform used for online arbitration, for example in the EU to resolve commercial disputes between businesses and consumers. It allows the parties to exchange evidence, negotiate and obtain decisions without a court hearing. |
| 5 | Virtual Courts in the US: ODR in the States | Many US states (eg, Michigan and Texas) have implemented online platforms for small claims resolution (Online Dispute Resolution, ODR). They allow plaintiffs and defendants to negotiate directly through the system or receive the judge's decision in video format. |
| 6 |
ePUAP (Poland) |
In Poland, digital solutions are actively used in courts. For example, the ePUAP system allows you to submit documents online, and courts can consider cases using video communication. This is especially true for civil cases and administrative courts. |
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7 |
European Online Dispute Resolution Platform (ODR Platform, EU) |
The European Commission has created the ODR Platform (Online Dispute Resolution), which allows consumers and businesses to resolve disputes about online purchases without going to court. Parties file a complaint on the platform, after which the system appoints an independent arbitrator to settle the matter. 🔹 Use case: A buyer from Germany did not receive a product from a seller from France and filed a complaint through the ODR Platform. The case was considered without a trial. |
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8 |
UK Online Arbitration: Resolver |
Resolver is a free online platform for resolving disputes between consumers and businesses in the UK. The user can file a complaint about banking services, utility payments or air transportation, and the system helps formulate the claim and sends it to the relevant authorities. 🔹 Use case: A passenger filed a flight delay complaint and Resolver helped get compensation from the airline. |
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9 |
Online court in the Netherlands: e-Kantonrechter |
The Dutch court system has an e-Kantonrechter , which allows parties to submit applications electronically, communicate with the judge via video link and receive a decision without being physically present in court. 🔹 Example of use: An employee challenges an unfair dismissal through an online platform, and a judge makes a decision based on the submitted documents and an online hearing. |
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10 |
Digital courts in Estonia: e-Justice and e-File |
Estonia is a leader in digital justice. The e-File system allows you to file lawsuits, view court documents and participate in meetings via video link. 🔹 Example of use: A business can file a debt collection lawsuit through e-File, and the entire procedure will take place online. 👉 https://www.eesti.ee/en |
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11 |
Online dispute resolution platform in France: Medicys |
Medicys is an online mediation service that helps consumers and businesses in France resolve disputes without going to court. 🔹 Use case: A consumer files a complaint about a store through Medicys, and an independent mediator helps the parties reach an agreement. |
The legal world is constantly changing thanks to technology. Innovation helps reduce paperwork, automate routine tasks, and make legal services more accessible to everyone. Perhaps the era of integrators will soon come - after all, interaction between numerous systems is needed without human intervention.
On the Instadoc platform, we follow the latest trends and offer modern solutions for automating legal processes: a document designer, an electronic signature, and secure file storage . Join the future of law today! 🚀
Date of publication: 20.03.2025