ABSTRACT Two major challenges in legal decision making arise from the high complexity of the cases and from the high level of uncertainty caused by incomplete or missing information. In most cases it is not possible to apply Bayesian probability and legal standards prohibit the application of fastand-frugal heuristics. Based on a connectionist approach to decision making, Simon (2004) argued that decision making in complex decisions is governed by coherence-based reasoning. The underlying parallel constraint satisfaction processes, which belong to the (LCM) system. arc incomparable and enable individuals to quickly integrate huge ammmts or inl(lnmnion (Giiielmcr & Betsch, 2007). Uaborating on this approach. t11o studies Ire· conducted in 11h1ch individuals Ire presented with a complex legal case. In the lirst study. the standard or prool' and the predictive power of evidence are manipulated, and in the second study, the standard of proof and the ll·aming of the case (arbitration vs. criminal case). The data replicate and cxtcnJ lindings from Simon (2004), and support the parallel constraint satisfaction approach to decision making. To fortify my understanding of the problems associated with loss of inlt1rmation and inc·l'licicnt storage methods. this aiTccl quality in a running of' a given organinllion
TABLE OF CONTENTS
DECLARATION......................................................................................... ........ .. . . II
APPROVAL .............................................................................................................................. iii
DEDICATION ........................................................................................................................... iv
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ........................................................................................................ v
ABBREVIATIONS AND DEFINITIONS ................................................................................ vi
TABLE 0 F CONTENTS .......................................................................................................... vii
ABSTRACT ............................................................................................................................... xi
CHAPTER ONE ....................................................................................................................... 1
INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................... 1
1.0 General Introduction............................................................................................... . .. I
1.1 Background...................................................................................... . ......... I
1.2 Problem Statement.......................................................................... "')
1.3 Objectives ......................................................................................................................... 2
I .3. I Main objective ............................................................................................................... 2
1.3.2 Specific objectives ......................................................................................................... 2
1.3.3 Research Questions ........................................................................................................ 2
I .4 Scope ................................................................................................................................. 3
1.4.1 Significance .................................................................................................................... 3
CHAPTER TWO ...................................................................................................................... ~
Ll TERATU RE REVIEW ........................................................................................................ ~
2.0 Introduction ...................................................................................................................... -!
2.1 Legal case management system...................................................... .j
2 .2. I Functions of a I ega! case system .... .. .. . .. ..... . .... .. .. .. .. ... .. . .. .. .. .. .. .. . .. .. . .. .. .. .. .. . .. .. .. . .. . . -!
2 .2 .2 Legal case catalog .......................................................................................................... 4
2.3 Information system ........................................................................................................... 5
2.3. I Database ......................................................................................................................... 6
2.4 Database management system .......................................................................................... 7
VII
2.4.0 Components of a DBMS .............................................................................................. 7
2.4.1 Functions of a DBMS .......................................................................... . . .. 7
2.4.2 System development life cycle ...................................................................................... 8
2.5 BENEFITS OF USING A COMPUTERIZED SYSTEM .............................................
2.5.1 Faster Access .................................................................................................................
2.5.2 Time Saving ................................................................................................................... 9
2.5 .3 Security .......................................................................................................................... 9
2.5.4 Filing and Retrieval. ....................................................................................................... 9
2.6 Conclusion .................................................................................................................... I 0
CHAPTER THREE ................................................................................................................ 11
METHODOLOGY ................................................................................................................. II
3.0 Introduction ........................................................................................... . .. ......... I I
3.1 Research Design................................................................................ I I
3.2. Targeted Population........................................................................................... I I
3.2.1 Data Collection Techniques ......................................................................................... 12
3.2.2 Interviews ..................................................................................................................... 12
~-~ uestJonnaires ................................................................................................................ . , , Q . . 12
3.3.0 Different phases of development. ................................................................................ 12
3.4 System development tools .............................................................................................. 13
3.4.0 Operating System ......................................................................................................... 13
3.4.1 Programming Languages (s) and Tools........................................................... .. ...... I~
3.4.2 System Designing Tools ............................................................................................ I~
CHAPTER FOUR ................................................................................................................... I(,
SYSTEM ANALYSIS AND DESIGN ................................................................................... 16
4.0 Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 16
4.1 Document Review ........................................................................................................... 16
4.1.0 Strength of the current system ..................................................................................... 16
4.1.1 Weaknesses of the current system ............................................................................... 17
4.2 Analysis of the proposed system ..................................................................................... 17
VIII
4.2.0 Benefits of the proposed system ................................................. .
4.2.1 Requirement analysis .............................................................................. ..
4.3 System design ................................................................................. .
4.3.0 E-R model ................................................................................... .
.. .. I 7
. ....... I g
.. 18
. .. 18
4.3.1 Flow charts ................................................................................................................... 20
4.4 Database design .............................................................................................................. 21
4.1.0 Relational database design ........................................................................................... 21
4.2 GUI Design ..................................................................................................................... 22
CHAPTER FIVE .................................................................................................................... 23
IMPLEMENTATION TESTING AND EVALUATION .................................................... 23
S .0 Introduction .................................................................................... .
5.1.0 Graphical peer interface .............................................................. .
5.1.1 Cases.................................................................................................................. . ... 2-l
S .1.2New case ....................................................................................................................... 25
5.1.3 Users ............................................................................................................................ 28
5.2 Follow-up ........................................................................................................................ 30
5.2.0 Sentence ....................................................................................................................... 32
5.2.1 Case state ..................................................................................................................... 32
5.2.2 Archives ....................................................................................................................... 34
5.3 Reports .......................................................................................................................... 35
5.3 .I New report .................................................................................................. . . ..... 3(1
CHAPTicR SIX ....................................................................................................................... 37
DISCUSSION, RECOMMENDATION AND CONCLUSION .......................................... 37
6.0 Objectives and Aims ....................................................................................................... 3 7
6.1 Management. ................................................................................................................... 37
6.2 Further Work ................................................................................................................... 39
6.3 System changeover ......................................................................................................... 39
6.4 Evaluation of the system ................................................................................................. 39
REFERENCES ......................................................................................................................... 41