View on GitHub

MIT IAP Computational Law Course

The 2021 MIT Computational Law Course

Mit_medialab_logo

2021 IAP Computational Law Workshop Course

This workshop course provides a conceptual overview and optional hands-on projects for understanding and solving legal use cases with data analytics, blockchain or other cryptosystems and a special module on rapid design solutions to key challenges posed by invited speakers. The course includes seminar-style lecture, class discussion, readings and other informational resources, and optional sessions hands-on, experiential learning through class projects. All class sessions and activities will be virtual and available through links provided to students shortly before the first class.

Welcome to New Students

Logistical Information

Course Goal(s)

Provide an overview of Computational Law with readings and materials from the MIT Computational Law Report and selected deeper dives into special topics.

Course Live Sessions

Each week during the course, we will hear from a different subject-matter experts in computational law and practice. In the coming weeks, we will continue updating this page with more information about each speaker and materials from their lectures.

Please reserve an hour the week before each class to review class materials in advance of the class discussions that week. Class projects are optional and will include additional time outside of class. Class topics may change.


Computational Law and Data Supply Chains

Jan/08, Fri 12:00PM-01:00PM

Dazza Greenwood of MIT Media Lab and Professor David Restrepo Amariles of HEC Paris where he is director of research on Legal Metrics and SMART Law (Scientific Mathematical, Algorithmic, Risk and Technology-driven law) will discuss Opportunities for Using Computational Law to Audit Data Supply Chains.

Bryan Wilson, an MIT Fellow, will provide students with information about an optional opportunity to do a hands-on class project.


Computational Law and Standards

Jan/15, Fri, 12:00PM-01:00PM

Dazza Greenwood of MIT Media Lab and Kenneth Jones, Chief Technologist of Tanenbaum Keale LLP, will discuss key technical standards for legal data and interactions, from ANSI X12 EDIFACT to the SALI Alliance’s emerging Legal Matter Standard Specification (LMSS) and how these standards provide a foundation for innovative computational law systems.

Bryan Wilson, an MIT Fellow, will provide students with information about an optional opportunity to do a hands-on class project.


Computational Law and Property Ownership

Jan/22, Fri, 12:00PM-01:00PM

Dazza Greenwood of MIT and Chris Rothfuss, Wyoming State Senator, will discuss the emerging model legislation on personal and organizational digital identity and it’s implications for the economy, government and society.

Dazza Greenwood of MIT and Yuliya Panfil, senior fellow and director of New Americas Future of Property Rights program, will ask whether or how computational law could afford better methods and mechanisms for proving ownership of property in post-disaster and other emergency scenarios.

Bryan Wilson, an MIT Fellow, will provide students with information about an optional opportunity to do a hands-on class project.


Computational Law in the Context of Space

Jan/29, Fri, 12:00PM-01:00PM

Dazza Greenwood of MIT, Vivasvat Dadwal (Viva) attorney at King & Spalding and co-organizer of New York Legal Hackers, and Bruce Cahan of Stanford Law CodeX will discuss current and emerging trends in law and disputes involving space and the moon and ask whether or how computational law could meet the growing challenges.

Class-Related Readings: Computational Law in the Context of Space

Bryan Wilson, an MIT Fellow, will provide students with information about an optional opportunity to do a hands-on class project.


Optional Course Projects

Projects are completely optional. Class projects will be an experimental attempt to adapt the project format of MIT’s Media Ventures course. Students seeking to submit a class project will complete a list of assignments posted ahead of each class sesssion. Students can then coordinate with Bryan for a 1-on-1 sessions, as needed, to discuss projects during the IAP period. Participants will have the option to present a Computational Law project in the final class period. Projects may include one or more of the following:

General Readings

A preliminary list of background materials is included below:

Materials from Previous IAP Courses

Title Date Description
The 2020 Computational Law Course 1/7/2020 Link to the homepage of the 2020 Course
Day 1: Jan 7, 1:30 - 3:30 PM Eastern Time 1/7/2020 Recording of Day 1 of the 2020 Course
Tax as a Computational Legal System 1/7/2020 Presentation by Brian Ulicny
Introduction to Computational Law 1/7/2020 Presentation by Dazza Greenwood and Bryan Wilson
Day 2: Jan 8, 1:30 - 3:30 PM Eastern Time 1/8/2020 Recording of Day 2 of the 2020 Course
Legal Algorithms 1/8/2020 Discussion with Professor Alex “Sandy” Pentland
Digital Economics and Computational Law 1/8/2020 Discussion with Navroop Sahdev
Day 3: Jan 9, 1:30 - 3:30 PM Eastern Time 1/9/2020 Recording of Day 3 of the 2020 Course
Prototyping Computational Legal Systems 1/9/2020 Scott Kelly discusses community.lawyer
Structuring Transactions as Legal Engineering 1/9/2020 Chris Berendt discusses his recent article
Structuring Transactions as Legal Engineering 1/9/2020 CFTC Rule for discussion
Day 4: Jan 24, 2:30 - 3:30 PM Eastern Time 1/24/2020 Recording of Day 4 of the 2020 Course
The 2019 Computational Law Course 1/9/2019 Link to the homepage of the 2019 Course
Introductions to the Students - 2019 Computational Law Workshop Course 1/9/2019 Introduction to the 2019 Course
Live Stream: Day 1 pt. 1 1/15/2019 Recording of the first part of Day 1 of the 2019 Course
What is Computational Law? 1/15/2019 Presentation by Dazza Greenwood
Computational Law Overview and Docassemble 1/15/2019 Presentation by Bryan Wilson
Live Stream: Day 1 pt. 2 1/15/2019 Recording of the second part of Day 1 of the 2019 Course
Rights Expression Languages 1/15/2019 Discussion with Bill Rosenblatt
Music Industry Value Chain 1/15/2019 Discussion with Vickie Nauman
Live Stream: Day 1 pt. 3 1/15/2019 Recording of the third part of Day 1 of the 2019 Course
Computational Contracts 1/15/2019 Discussion with Chris Berendt
Security, Cryptography, and Protocols 1/15/2019 Discussion with Christian Smith
Day 2 In-Person Wrap-Up Session 1/16/2019 Recording of Day 2 of the 2019 Course
New Technologies for Copyright and Music Licensing 1/16/2019 Discussion with George Howard
Redbull Music System Solutions for Open Music Initiative Challenges 1/16/2019 Open Music Initiative Challenges
IBM Hyperledger Solutions for Open Music Initiative Challenges 1/16/2019 Open Music Initiative Challenges
Day 2 Opening Plenary Session Live Stream 1/16/2019 Recording of the Day 2 Opening Plenary Session
Interactive Overview of Legal Hackers 1/16/2019 Presentation by Jameson Dempsey
Integrating Interoperable Apps and Services with a Legal Platform pt. 1 1/16/2019 Working Group with Juan Ramirez
Integrating Interoperable Apps and Services with a Legal Platform pt. 2 1/16/2019 Working Group with Juan Ramirez
How Might a Computational Jurisdiction be Designed, Built, and Tested? 1/16/2019 Working Group with Bryan Wilson and Brian Ulicny
Day 2 Closing Plenary Session Live Stream 1/16/2019 Day 2 Closing Plenary Session Live Stream
Day 3 - Opening Plenary Live Stream 1/17/2019 Recording of Day 3 of the 2019 Course (Opening Plenary)
How Might the Bankruptcy Court Treat Blockchain Token Holders in Bankruptcy Case? 1/17/2019 Working Group with Beth McCarthy and Warren Agin
Integrating Interoperable Apps and Services with a Legal Platform 1/17/2019 Working Group with Juan Ramirez
Competing Legal Frameworks for Humanity in the Data Driven Age 1/17/2019 Working Group with Elizabeth Renieris
Smart Contracts for Music Licensing 1/17/2019 Working Group with Michelle Gitlitz
Day 3 - Closing Plenary Live Stream 1/17/2019 Recording of Day 3 of the 2019 Course (Closing Plenary)
The 2018 Computational Law Course 1/16/2018 Link to the homepage of the 2018 Course
2018 Computational Law Course Slide Deck 1/16/2018 Topics and Speakers from the 2018 Course
Digital Asset Lifecycle Management 1/16/2018 Livestream of Day 1 of the 2018 Course
Multi-Party Contract Systems and Markets 1/17/2018 Livestream of Day 2 of the 2018 Course
Individual Identity and Personal Data 1/18/2018 Livestream of Day 3 of the 2018 Course
Computational Law Challenge 11/5/2017 MIT Legal Forum Day 2
The 2017 Computational Law Course 1/30/2017 Link to the Github of the 2017 Course
Leaning into Computational Transactions 1/30/2017 Presentation by Larry Bridgesmith
Computational Law Lecture and Mock Trial 1/26/2017 Preparatory Activities for the 2017 Course
Legal Analytics Data Challenge 1/26/2017 Preparatory Activities for the 2017 Course
Overview of Thomson Reuters Labs 1/26/2017 Preparatory Activities for the 2017 Course
DataVR Workshops Project 1/26/2017 Preparatory Activities for the 2017 Course
DataVR Day Two Livestream (Opening) 1/24/2017 Preparatory Activities for the 2017 Course
DataVR Day Two Livestream (Closing) 1/24/2017 Preparatory Activities for the 2017 Course
Overview of Simmetri 1/18/2017 Preparatory Activities for the 2017 Course

Materials and speakers are subject to change