JURIMETRICS: THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD IN LEGAL RESEARCH

Abstract

The term “jurimetrics” describes the use of scientific methodology in legal enquiry. A burgeoning area of jurimetrics is the use of computer technology for storing legal information in rapidly accessible computer memory. But jurimetrics is not confined to computing. Perry Meyer examines data storage and retrieval, legal drafting and textual ambiguities, analysis of complex evidence, prediction of judgements and law reform and concludes that jurimetrics is an incipient revolution in legal enquiry which, sooner or later, will shake legal education, legal research and legal practice to their very foundations. Whether it will come to fruition within the current generation, however, is another question.