Applications for Law and Society

In its work on economic innovation and entrepreneurship, the Law Lab spans the continuum from conducting empirical research to fostering concrete applications for law, business, and education. Many of these applications are inspired by the "cloud law" vision of the Lab, and aim to exploit the potential of the Internet and other digital media to provide democratized access to the creative opportunities of private legal institutions around the world.

Digital Institutions and Vermont

In the past year, the State of Vermont has passed ground-breaking legislation permitting the use of a wide range of digital tools to carry out the internal legal aspects of Vermont corporations and LLCs. These "virtual corporations" are private institutions with full legal status that can exist entirely in digital form. Under the guidance of Oliver Goodenough, the Law Lab is working with Vermont to develop software that can fully implement the potential of this advance in the law of private enterprise.

Developing World

It is widely recognized that strong, flexible, and accessible legal institutions are critical ingredients for economic development. Unfortunately, such institutions are not always available or affordable in many parts of the world. Using the cloud law approach, we are collaborating with a broad spectrum of actors, from academic institutions and NGOs, to telephone providers and banks. Together, we are creating digital applications to give individuals in the developing world the kind of reliable structures for conducting transactions, obtaining finance, and creating organizations that will support efforts to create prosperity.

Applications for the Internet and Mobile Devices

At the Law Lab we are fostering the design and realization of a wide spectrum of digital legal tools for the Internet and mobile devices. Our targets for digitization include such financial instruments as letters of credit and such contracting support as a promise and performance registry. By driving down transaction costs and democratizing access we can help revolutionize the availability of institutional and legal protections for economic actors everywhere.