German courts are now able to conduct civil proceedings in English, for example in Commercial Courts and Commercial Chambers pursuant to Sections 119b and 184a of the German Courts Act (GVG). However, the documents required for this must comply with German law whilst also being translated into English to a high standard – a task at which standard translation software regularly fails. It is precisely these challenging areas that the ad hoc project addresses, investigating how the demanding work of drafting and translation can be partially automated with the aid of artificial intelligence. Led by Prof. Dr Petra Gehring of TU Darmstadt, ZEVEDI is working closely with the Hessian Ministry of Justice (HMdJ), WIANCO Ott Robotics GmbH in Darmstadt and Hochschule Fulda – University of Applied Sciences.
At the heart of the project is an AI-supported workflow. An agent system links various generative AI tools – including translation software, large language models and legal databases – to generate text suggestions that assist human experts. In difficult passages where the legal meaning cannot be directly transferred from one legal language to another, the system aims to provide high-quality translations. As an example, the project models practical workflows for three types of document used in civil law practice: the order for evidence, the procedural order and the judgement.
The project places particular emphasis on digital sovereignty. The outcome of the project is a feasibility assessment that will enable the State of Hesse to take the next steps.
Project responsibility
Prof. Dr. Petra Gehring, Technische Universität Darmstadt | more information
Coordination of the project
Dr. Kai Denker, Technische Universität Darmstadt | more information
