Augmented lawyering

How will artificial intelligence (“AI”) and associated digital technologies reshape the work of lawyers and structure of law firms? Legal services are traditionally provided by highly-skilled humans—that is, lawyers. Dramatic recent progress in AI has triggered speculation about the extent to which automated systems may come to replace humans in legal services. A related debate is whether the legal profession’s adherence to the partnership form inhibits capital-raising necessary to invest in new technology. This Article presents what is to our knowledge the most comprehensive empirical study yet conducted into the implementation of AI in legal services, encompassing interview-based case studies and survey data. We focus on two inter-related issues: how the nature of legal services work will change, and how the firms that co-ordinate this work will be organized. A central theme is that prior debate focusing on the “human vs technology” aspect of change overlooks the way in which technology is transforming the human dimensions of legal services. Our analysis of the impact of AI on legal services work suggests that while it will replace humans in some tasks, it will also change the work of those who are not replaced. It will augment the capabilities of human lawyers who use AI-enabled services as inputs to their work and generate new roles for legal experts in producing these AI-enabled services. We document these new roles being clustered in multidisciplinary teams (“MDTs”) that mix legal with a range of other disciplinary inputs to augment the operation of technical systems. We identify challenges for traditional law firm partnerships in implementing AI. Contrary to prior debate, these do not flow from constraints on finance to invest in technical assets. Rather, the central problems have to do with human capital: making necessary strategic decisions; recruiting, coordination and motivation the necessary MDTs; and adjusting professional boundaries. These findings have important implications for lawyers, law firms and the legal profession

Modeling Habitat and Environmental Factors Affecting Mosquito Abundance in Chesapeake, Virginia

The models I present in this dissertation were designed to enable mosquito control agencies in the mid-Atlantic region that oversee large jurisdictions to rapidly track the spatial and temporal distributions of mosquito species, especially those species known to be vectors of eastern equine encephalitis and West Nile virus. I was able to keep these models streamlined, user-friendly, and not cost-prohibitive using empirically based digital data to analyze mosquito-abundance patterns in real landscapes. This research is presented in three major chapters: (II) a series of semi-static habitat suitability indices (HSI) grounded on well-documented associations between mosquito abundance and environmental variables, (III) a dynamic model for predicting both spatial and temporal mosquito abundance based on a topographic soil moisture index and recent weather patterns, and (IV) a set of protocols laid out to aid mosquito control agencies for the use of these models. The HSIs (Chapter II) were based on relationships of mosquitoes to digital surrogates of soil moisture and vegetation characteristics. These models grouped mosquitoes species derived from similarities in habitat requirements, life-cycle type, and vector competence. Quantification of relationships was determined using multiple linear regression models. As in Chapter II, relationships between mosquito abundance and environmental factors in Chapter III were quantified using regression models. However, because this model was, in part, a function of changes in weather patterns, it enables the prediction of both \u27where\u27 and \u27when\u27 mosquito outbreaks are likely to occur. This model is distinctive among similar studies in the literature because of my use of NOAA\u27s NEXRAD Doppler radar (3-hr precipitation accumulation data) to quantify the spatial and temporal distributions in precipitation accumulation. \ Chapter IV is unique among the chapters in this dissertation because in lieu of presenting new research, it summarizes the preprocessing steps and analyses used in the HSIs and the dynamic, weather-based, model generated in Chapters II and III. The purpose of this chapter is to provide the reader and potential users with the necessary protocols for modeling the spatial and temporal abundances and distributions of mosquitoes, with emphasis on Culiseta melanura, in a real-world landscape of the mid-Atlantic region. This chapter also provides enhancements that could easily be incorporated into an environmentally sensitive integrated pest management program

Modeling, Design And Evaluation Of Networking Systems And Protocols Through Simulation

Computer modeling and simulation is a practical way to design and test a system without actually having to build it. Simulation has many benefits which apply to many different domains: it reduces costs creating different prototypes for mechanical engineers, increases the safety of chemical engineers exposed to dangerous chemicals, speeds up the time to model physical reactions, and trains soldiers to prepare for battle. The motivation behind this work is to build a common software framework that can be used to create new networking simulators on top of an HLA-based federation for distributed simulation. The goals are to model and simulate networking architectures and protocols by developing a common underlying simulation infrastructure and to reduce the time a developer has to learn the semantics of message passing and time management to free more time for experimentation and data collection and reporting. This is accomplished by evolving the simulation engine through three different applications that model three different types of network protocols. Computer networking is a good candidate for simulation because of the Internet\u27s rapid growth that has spawned off the need for new protocols and algorithms and the desire for a common infrastructure to model these protocols and algorithms. One simulation, the 3DInterconnect simulator, simulates data transmitting through a hardware k-array n-cube network interconnect. Performance results show that k-array n-cube topologies can sustain higher traffic load than the currently used interconnects. The second simulator, Cluster Leader Logic Algorithm Simulator, simulates an ad-hoc wireless routing protocol that uses a data distribution methodology based on the GPS-QHRA routing protocol. CLL algorithm can realize a maximum of 45% power savings and maximum 25% reduced queuing delay compared to GPS-QHRA. The third simulator simulates a grid resource discovery protocol for helping Virtual Organizations to find resource on a grid network to compute or store data on. Results show that worst-case 99.43% of the discovery messages are able to find a resource provider to use for computation. The simulation engine was then built to perform basic HLA operations. Results show successful HLA functions including creating, joining, and resigning from a federation, time management, and event publication and subscription

A Distributed Parallel Simulation Environment for Interoperability and Reusability of Models in Military Applications

Interoperability and reusability of models are main concerns in military simulation. In order to improve the interoperability and reusability of models, the model shall be separated with a particular simulation engine, and the modelling framework of models as well as the architecture of the simulation engine should be standardized. This paper describes the architecture and operational concept of simulation environment which has been developed to enhance interoperability an d reusability of models. We named this environment adaptive distributed parallel Simulation environment for Interoperable and reusable models (AddSIM). We suggested a modelling framework to promote model development, portability and interoperability with other models. Also, we proposed a layered architecture to modularise critical capabilities including kernel layer, tool/application layer, support/service layer and external interface. This means that models can be developed independently of a simulation engine and interfaced with it using API. To validate the application feasibility of AddSIM, we set up an anti-air missile engagement situation and performed simulation. In military simulation, it is expected that reusability and interoperability of models will be enhanced by using proposed AddSIM.Defence Science Journal, 2012, 62(6), pp.412-419, DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.14429/dsj.62.147

The emergence of the forensic and legal project manager

The worldwide emergence of the distinct legal project manager role is symbolic of the evolving shifts in the management structure of legal projects within all legal service provider entities and brings a new career path for legal environments. This context statement offers a self-reflection of my vision, journey and contribution to global public works delivered through the establishment of the ‘International Institute of Legal Project Management’ (IILPM) that I founded in 2017. The IILPM has become the first and only professional global community of certified legal project management (LPM) practitioners worldwide. It has achieved graduates in fifty-two countries of the world, supported by a global network of accredited training providers in fourteen countries and university partnerships in six countries. It has established practice models for legal matter management, legal process improvement and investigation case management, underpinned by project management principles and practices. An analytical autoethnographic approach was used to explain my thinking, approach and methods to achieve the public works and to overcome the key challenges that I have personally experienced and overcome. It reflects on how the public works has influenced the legal profession worldwide and helped transition the emergence of the legal project manager role from a state of flux to a more defined position. It covers my contributions to research, developed industry standards and frameworks, competency assessment models, training programmes, a multi-tiered credentialing system, workplace practice tools, and other publications, as well as providing a platform for the annual international conference regime, and the innovation-based professional awards programme. This qualitative-based self-reflection considered the ‘interdisciplinarity’ makeup of legal project management, the ‘post-bureaucracy’ managerial influences within the legal profession that has enabled changes in legal practice changes that has recognised the role, and the ‘post-professionalism’ influence on the traditional legal practitioner role that has help supported the emergence of the legal project manager that is now occupied by both lawyers and non-legally qualified allied legal professionals

The development of oral competence: a semi-longitudinal study on English-speaking adult L2 learners of Chinese in Ireland

The semi-longitudinal study explores the impact of learning environments and task type on the oral Complexity, Accuracy, and Fluency (CAF) of adult English-speaking learners of Chinese, investigating when and how the oral performance of instructed L2 learners changes in two contexts: Formal Instruction at-home (FI) and Study Abroad (SA). Moreover, the study discusses relationships between the CAF constructs and those between the sub-constructs, to assess the oral performance of instructed L2 Chinese learners. Two widely documented theoretical hypotheses on attention allocation and tasks, the Trade-off Hypothesis (Skehan, 2009; Skehan and Foster, 2012) and the Cognition Hypothesis (Robinson, 2001; 2003; 2005; 2011) are examined with data collected from ten English-speaking undergraduates from five oral tests across 28 months (including 10-month of SA experience). Our results show that during the pre-and post-SA periods, the students benefit from SA in terms of syntactic complexity (subordination and length of the unit), lexical sophistication as well as speed fluency with small deductions in dysfluency at the cost of accuracy. This is attributable to the study abroad experience as well as rehearsed monologue tasks (cf. Wright, 2020) that the participants took in the study. The SA favors oral gains in terms of speech fluidity, syntactic complexity (length and subordination), and lexical sophistication. The factor of task design must also be taken into consideration when L2 learners’ oral gains are evaluated. After coming back to the FI context for 6 months, a significant decrease, in general, is observed regarding FI at-home maintenance on those oral gains benefited from the SA experience. However, lexical variety reveals significant improvement. The findings suggest that learners in the FI context tend to concentrate on learning vocabulary and syntactic complexity via subordination at the expense of fluency and accuracy (Juan-Garau and Pérez-Vidal, 2007) as well as other complexity measures (syntactic complexity via length and lexical sophistication) in this study. Generalized from the analysis after SA, trade-off effects are observed prevailingly between CAF constructs (in particular between complexity and accuracy, between accuracy and fluency), while simultaneous improvements are present within CAF, in particular, and between speed and breakdown within fluency, and between syntactic complexity and lexical sophistication within complexity. These results confirm Skehan’s predictions that, tensions between control (accuracy) and risk-taking (complexity), and between focusing on meaning (fluency) and form (accuracy) (Skehan, 2009; Wang & Skehan, 2014). Task characteristics were attributed to the analysis because the different characteristics support different performance areas (Skehan and Foster, 2012). Pre-planning is argued to elicit greater complexity and fluency (Skehan, 2009; Skehan and Foster, 2012). For the interrelationship between CAF measures, after learners return to FI at home context for six months, the analysis, in general, supports trade-off effects between lexical diversity and syntactic complexity via length, as well as lexical diversity between fluency. The results contribute to the trade-off hypothesis that, tensions can be found between subconstructs within CAF (complexity). The prioritization of attentional resources is determined by the task types and learning contexts, revealing that vocabulary development is at the cost of syntactic complexity and fluency during FI context (Juan-Garau & Pérez-Vidal, 2007). Moreover, the study provides pedagogical implications and recommendations for the development of L2 Chinese oral performance at university levels

Space Processing Applications Rocket (SPAR) project SPAR 7

The postflight reports of each of the Principal Investigators of three selected science payloads are presented in addition to the engineering report as documented by the Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC). Pertinent portions of ground-based research leading to the ultimate selection of the flight sample composition are described including design, fabrication and testing. Containerless processing technology, containerless processing bubble dynamics, and comparative alloy solidification are the experiments discussed

Motion Artifact Reduction in Impedance Plethysmography Signal

The research related to designing portable monitoring devices for physiological signals has been at its peak in the last decade or two. One of the main obstacles in building such devices is the effect of the subject\u27s movements on the quality of the signal. There have been numerous studies addressing the problem of removing motion artifact from the electrocardiogram (ECG) and photoplethysmography (PPG) signals in the past few years. However, no such study exists for the Impedance Plethysmography (IP) signal. The IP signal can be used to monitor respiration in mobile devices. However, it is very susceptible to motion artifact. The main aim of this dissertation is to develop adaptive and non-adaptive filtering algorithms to address the problem of motion artifact reduction from the IP signal

Human service: a framework for education and practice

This paper sets out to deal with two main themes. The first theme considers the historical, political and social forces in human service delivery which were instrumental in the gradual recognition of human service as a field of academic study and practice. The paper firmly locates human services in organisational and administrative settings, in contrast to therapeutic or clinical orientations of the established helping professions. The second theme deals with the domain of human services by incorporating the value commitment to meeting human needs. The normative position identifies human service as a field of study and practice which cuts across the national and cultural boundaries. This position calls for the imperatives of the comparative cross-cultural perspectives in human services since the diversity of human needs as well as individual, culture, resource and aspirations and time specific nature of human needs have to be recognised. Furthermore, comparative cross-cultural perspective provides human service with a disciplinary base in the social sciences. The latter part of the paper incorporates the first and second themes in developing a framework for education and practice. This is approached by introducing the concept of \u27human service mix\u27 to advance a position that human services do not have to be \u27locked\u27 into a particular settings, such as a Government provision of service. Human Services is presented as a conjoint product of many different activities which are instrumental to meeting human needs