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.

Keywords: legal informatics, definitions, legal contracts, word clouds, network visualization, contract visualization, text visualization, graph metrics

JEL Classification: K10