Project EAGLE (Now Closed)

The Project

Imagine that....

• your computer behaved like a friendly legal expert
• that its legal expertise was available anytime
• that it could process client enquiries
• check if the law had been broken
• and even put things right!!

These are the aims of Project EAGLE, a joint initiative launched by the Legal Services Commission and two Citizens Advice Bureaux, Nuneaton & Bedworth CAB and Stoke on Trent CAB. We are developing the next generation of information systems to help advice workers and their clients. 

Project EAGLE is a groundbreaking and innovative project funded from the Govenment's Invest to Save Budget, the Legal Services Commission and Citizens Advice to pioneer a web based expert system to help deliver legal information and advice. It is aimed at generalist advisers working in Citizens Advice Bureaux and other advice agencies.

What is an Expert System

An expert system is an interactive computer programme which emulates the way an experienced specialist woul tackle a problem. It should act as an intelligent, knowledgeable and experienced assistant to help advisers deal with enquiries, but it should not be expected to replace advisers. Acedemic work has been carried out in the field of expert systems and knowledge capture. However, very little is in place to support advisers. We seek to learn from, and build on, what has gone before to create a practical resource which will be widely used.

The first area of advice work , chosen to test the concept, was employment law.

For further information and details of the EAGLE Project visit the website www.projecteagle.org.uk

Unfortunately we were unable to secure continuation funding to complete our work and the Project closed in December 2005. However we do feel that we have proved the concept and hope that somebody will be able to carry on where we left off.