The Legal Interpretation and Technology (LegIT) lab is a collaboration between linguists, computer scientists, and legal scholars that brings its multidisciplinary expertise to the problem of meaning in legal texts such as statutes and contracts. Through theory, case studies, and empirical work, LegIT speaks to academic researchers, the legal community, and the public to counsel sound application of current technologies and methods.
What is legal interpretation?
U.S. courts are often faced with linguistic dilemmas when considering legal text. For example:
- Is a gun parts kit a “firearm”? [Bondi v. VanDerStok]
- Does installing an in-ground trampoline constitute “landscaping”? [Snell v. Specialty Insurance Co.]
- If someone is held up at gunpoint, are they being “physically restrained”? [U.S. v. Deleon]
- Is a fish a “tangible object”? [Yates v. U.S.] (Really.)
LegIT research examines how such linguistic questions are answered in the courts, and seeks systematic procedures for analyzing language that draw on linguistic theories, empirical studies, and appropriate uses of technologies such as generative AI.
How does LegIT advance the state of the art in legal interpretation?
The lab’s work sits at the intersection of law and cognitive science, especially linguistics. We use linguistic theory and empirical methods—including survey experiments, corpus linguistics, and generative AI—to contribute to legal interpretation.
The lab has published scholarly articles in law, linguistics, and computer science. The lab also contributes practical and public-facing work, such as Linguist amicus briefs for the Supreme Court and recommendations to legal and policymaking bodies.
How can I get involved?
Contact one of the lab’s directors if you want to contribute to our research efforts!